LESFSFOIA
Fi Ss Aes
FISHERIES tee
me MARCH 1990
FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE
United States Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
OSCAR L. CHAPMAN, Secretary ALBERT M. DAY, Director
= SPeyERTESREVIEW
A REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS AND NEWS OF THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES
PREPARED IN THE BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
A. W. Anderson, Editor
R.T. Whiteleather, Associate Editor
Wm.H. Dumont and J. Pileggi, Assistant Editors
Applications for COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, which is mailed tree to members ot the
fishery industries and allied interests,should be addressed to the
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, 25, D.C.
The contents of this publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely; however, reference to
the source will be appreciated. The Service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of material from outside sources.
The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, December 15,1949
CONTENTS
COVER: FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE RESEARCH SHI P BLACK
DOUGLAS, ENGAGED IN A PROGRAM OF PACIFIC COAST
PILCHARD RESEARCH AT SEA IN COOPERATION WITH
SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, CALIFORNIA
FISH AND GAME, CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES,
AND THE MARINE RESEARCH COMMITTEE. FORMER SEC-
RETARY KRUG CITED THE SHIP'S CREW FOR RESCUE OF
17 SURVIVORS OF THE SALINA CRUZ, PANAMANIAN SHIP
WHICH BURNED AT SEA LAST OCTOBER.
THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE--TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS, BY ALBERT M. DAY wcccscocscccsessse+nccsesesoce J
A NEW FISHERY FOR GROOVED SHRIMP |N SOUTHERN FLORIDA, BY CLARENCE P. IDYLL .. : 10
VITAMIN A IN 155 GRAYFISH LIVERS, BY F. BRUCE SANFORD, GILBERT A. HOLLAND, AND GLENN C. BUCHER ot 17
Cee SSD e
PAGE PAGE
RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES ..eeceveseeees 22 FOREIGN (CONTO.):
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: .....cseeecesscesceess 25 BRITISH GUIANA:
ADDITIONS TO. THE FLEET OF U. S, FISHING STATUS OF FISHERIES cscescccccvecscesiecssese 48
VESSEUS) Selsiuisioccevccincsavccvecscececscecieee (25 FRANCE:
ALASKA COMMERCIAL FISHERY REGULATIONS REVISED FISHING RLEET i oite's\sieln/b\e|sl=|elvlelslulelelsiclsleleleisiotele'sio 40,
FOR) 1950) ow cccccenvienccecereusesescussscsers 20 GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC:
CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHERIES TRENDS FOR 1949 .,.. 30 DEVELOPMENT OF GERMAN FREE-SWIMMING TRAWL .. 50
ECA PROCUREMENT AUTHORIZATIONS FOR FISHERY FISHING INDUSTRY TAXES REDUCED ......e-e.0+5 5
PRODUCTS? ove icje sleiclewicrisiss cesilisiveeciocciviocistismey Ul TUNA CATCH, 1949 ....esecescceee Si
FEDERAL PURCHASES OF FISHERY PRODUCTS ....... 32 SUBSIDY FOR TRAWLERS 52
ENSHERYABIOLOGYSNOTES Us cleleiuinlvlsininiels saietaie siaeree mica NEWS IUSHIING/INEMitetslulsiatelatelclcte’sistelereiovsiaielslelateieietsialmeaes
FAO COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY PROBLEMS HOLDS OPERATION OF AMERICAN TRAWLERS IN GERMANY .. 53
ORGANIZATION MEETING sessevessssceces ane 215 GREENLAND:
GULF FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS .....seeeee- ba els DEVELOPMENTS IN DANISH FISHERY IN GREENLAND. 54
GUCF OF MEXICO FISHERIES TRENDS, 1949 wicca biclage Oa SHRIMPUENSHERY s/ajeieisieiaju(ciainie'nieielelelstejeitielsvemialeisisic moe:
INDO-PACIFIC FISHERIES COUNCIL ACCEPTED BY 1 CELAND:
KOREA AND INDONESIA .eseseseseeeceseseresers 39 TRAWLERS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH REDUCTION
MICHIGAN'S COMMERCIAL FISHERIES PRODUCTION, EQUIPMENT cocrevercceserecccsevncccecesesess DO
1949 ecccscscteccsececevvsccaseasersccssiccs JO. INDIA:
NATIONAL FISHERIES TRENDS FOR 1949 AND OUT- MARINE INVERTEBRATE FAUNA SURVEY ..eseeeeees 59
LOOK FOR 1950) weccccvcccccconscccecesscesese 40 JAPAN:
NORTHWEST PACIFIC EXPLORATORY PROGRAM ....... 41 BISHERIES LAW ENACTED <.ccccecccceuescucweve OD
PACIFIC COAST PURSE~SEINING METHODS TRIED IN” REVIEW OF FISHERIES DURING 1949 ...eeeseeees 56
EAST COAST MENHADEN FISHERY .e.eseseceeesers 42 LIBERIA:
PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION DISCUSSES STATUS OF FISHERIES ,cccscccccccsccenccevese 50
SALMON-MARKING PROGRAM ...seeececseeees » 4 MEXICO:
PACIFIC OCEANIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS - 4 APPROVES INTERNATIONAL FISHERY AGREEMENT .., 57
PUGET SOUND SALMON FISHERY, 1949 .eccseseeeee 46 NORWAY:
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES .....- . 47 EXPERIMENTS WITH ARTIFICIAL DRYING OF FISH , 57
FOREIGNS sevccesevessversecsescceseresesssssece 40 LEATHER FROM FISH SKIN seececcepseverascsess 57
BRAZIL: HERRING FACTORY SHIP «see 7. 58
WHALING seceseccenrarecesencrseseesssessesss 48 PLASTIC FROM FISH WASTE .. eoe SO
CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 77
pal £F
March 1950 Washington 25, D.C. Vol.12, No.3
THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE--TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
By Albert M. Day**
HOOVER COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
It is hardly proper for me as Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, one
of the agencies that is proposed for reorganization by the Hoover Commission.1/
+o discuss whether that Commission's recommenda- zs
tions are sound and should be adopted. Rather,
I prefer to make some general observations about
the background of the Hoover Commission Report on
this particular subject and explain what the Fish
and Wildlife Service is attempting to do to aid
in the broad development and utilization of the
highly important fishery resources of this Nation.
In the first instance, it should be well
understood that the final recommendations of the
Hoover Commission resulted only after a great
deal of conflicting and diverse testimony on this
important subject had been given careful consid-
eration. The whole problem is complex because
fishery management is complex. It must always
be woven into the intricate patterns of land and
water uses and human needs in our expanding civ-
ilization. This fact is well emphasized when we recognize that the three dif-
ferent task forces studying the organization of the Government came out with three
different recommendations when it came to fish and wildlife matters.
ALBERT M. DAY
The report of one committee would have dispersed the conservation agencies
through the Government and would have put the Fish and Wildlife Service in a Pub-
lic Works Department. The Agricultural Committee recommended a transfer to Agri-
culture of all major public land administration, activities and functions, including
the Fish and Wildlife Service. The task force on Natural Resources proposed to
abolish the Interior Department and create in its place a Department of Natural
Resources, among which would have been a division of the present Fish and Wildlife
Service into a Fisheries Service and a Wildlife Service, each separately adminis-
tered. The final recommendations of the entire Commission were that only the
commercial fisheries activities of the Service should be transferred to the De-
artment of Commerce. As evidence of the diversity of opinion among the members
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of the Interior,
1/See Commercial Fisheries Review, April 1949, pp. 21-4.
Note: his article was adapted from an address ("Ten Years of Fishery Activities Under the
Fish and Wildlife Service") delivered by the author at the 43rd Annual Convention of the
National Canners Association, Atlantic City, N. J., January 28, 1950.
2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
of the Commission, it should be noted that dissents to this proposal were ex-
pressed by Vice-Chairman Dean Acheson and Commissioners James Forrestal, James K.
Pollack, and James H. Rowe, Jr.
With this divergence of opinion among the members of the Hoover Commission
and the various task forces as to the proper place in Government for the Federal
responsibility for fishery activi-
ties, it is not surprising that the
e) resultant reactions of the public
also have been mixed. The American
Fisheries Society, organized in 1872
and now the oldest scientific bio-
logical organization in the United
States, at a meeting in Winnipeg,
Canada, last September, passed a res—
Olution endorsing the task force rec-
ommendations of the "Report on Nat-
ural Resources," with the exception
that the Society opposed that por-
tion of the report which recommends
the separation of fisheries admin-
FLAG OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. istration from wildlife administra-
tion.
Likewise, a meeting of the International Association of Game, Fish, and Con-
servation Commissioners, also meeting in Winnipeg, in September, passed a reso-
lution endorsing the general purposes of the Natural Resources task force report,
but also stated that they opposed the recommendation of the report which would
separate fisheries from wildlife in the present Fish and Wildlife Service. Within
the past few weeks, the Executive Officers and the Legislative Committee of the
International Association ,|
again reaffirmed to Sec- ~
retary Chapman their strong
oppositionto this propos-
al. The International As-
sociation is made up of
representatives of all of
theState conservation de-
partments in the country,
the great bulk of which
administers both fisheries
and wildlife in a single
organizationof the State.
In fact, of the 48 States,
only 8 have separate de-
partments devoted to com-
SPENCER F. BAIRD, ONE OF THE THREE VESSELS WHICH HAS RE-
mercial fisheries. In the CENTLY COMPLETED A FIVE-YEAR STUDY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
other 40, commercial and FISHERIES 1N CONNECTION WITH THE REHABILITATION OF THE
sport fishery and wild- ERNE! PINES
life management activities
are all in the same department. The same, of course, is true, in Alaska.
To the contrary, the Pacific Fisheries Conference, composed largely of members
of industry operating on the West Coast and in Alaska, by action taken at a recent
meeting in California, adopted the following resolution, and I quote:
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3
"Whereas, the consolidation by Executive Order of the former Bureau of
Fisheries and the former Bureau of Biological Survey into one Bureau in
the Department of the Interior, called the Fish and Wildlife Service,
has been demonstrated as unsound, illogical and ineffective, and has not
served to further the sound, efficient administration of fisheries, and
whereas the Commission for the reorganization of the Executive Branch of
the Government, commonly referred to as the Hoover Commission, recommended
that the administration of fisheries should be separated from the adminis-
tration of wildlife: Now, Therefore,
"Be it resolved, that the Conference heartily endorses the recommendation
that such separation should be made and also urges that the re-established
Division of Fisheries should be transferred in toto to the Department of
Commerce or to a new Department of Natural Resources if such a Department
should be created and now, in whichever Department placed, fisheries should
be under direct charge of an officer of the rank of Assistant Secretary."
It is to the assertion of the Pacific Fisheries Conference that the present
organization has been demonstrated as "unsound, illogical, ineffective, and has
not served to further the sound, efficient administration of fisheries" that I
wish to direct my remarks today. I challenge that statement as incorrect and I
call upon the drafters of the resolution to furnish proof of their assertions.
The present organization is sound, it is logical, and it is effective. In the
ten years it has been in effect, it has done more to further the interests of
fishery management, conservation, and utilization than was accomplished in the
three or four decades previously.
CONSOLIDATION OF BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
Memories about public affairs and previous events are short, and I feel that
many are unfamiliar with the background and do not know the original reasons for
the consolidation of the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of Biological Survey.
Such moves are seldom made without good reasons, as was the case in this instance.
At the tims of the merger in 1940, both of these predecessor agencies were weak
and to a considerable extent were discredited in the public mind. The Biological
ALBATROSS Ji1, A SERVICE RESEARCH VESSEL CARRYING ON INVESTIGATIONS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
FROM THE GRAND BANKS TO THE CAROLINAS.
4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
Survey, which I joined in 1918 and in which, together with the present Fish and
Wildlife Service, I have served continuously ever since, had suffered from weak
administration for several years prior to the merger.
Waterfowl, coming under Federal regulation under a treaty with Canada, had
been consistently declining over a period of years. The only remedy that the
Bureau seemed to be able to prescribe was ever-shortened seasons and ever-smaller
bag limits. Because of resultant public dissatisfaction and clamor, President
Roosevelt appointed a special committee of citizens to study the problem and to
recommend remedies. "Ding" Darling, the famous cartoonist, prominent in con-
servation circles in the Midwest, served on this special study committee. It
recommended a positive action program--the acquisition and restoration of marshes
along with severe restrictions on the take by hunters. Darling was induced to
serve as Chief of the Biological Survey, an organization that had been virtually
leaderless since the disability retirement of the previous bureau chief. He re-
mained less than two years and was succeeded by Dr. Ira N. Gabrielson, an out-
standing scientist and able administrator, but in 1940, when the merger came about,
the public had not yet regained confidence in the efficiency of the administration
of the Biological Survey.
A similar situation existed in the Bureau of Fisheries. It was a small or-
ganization and the morale of its employees, aswell as the confidence of the public,
suffered severely because of the quality of its leadership. Controversy raged,
particularly in the Alaska fisheries field, where the Bureau then had, and still
a4 F ~ Sunreey has
we Soe |
seal SAP: ve =i
t
THE HENRY O'MALLEY, ONE OF THE THREE SERVICE VESSELS DOING EXPLORATORY FISHING IN THE
WATERS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5
has as the Fish and Wildlife Service, sole regulatory authority over the extremely
valuable salmon and herring fisheries. We are still trying to live down some of
the things that happened in Alaska in those days.
Government reorganizers concluded that there might be a strengthening of
the administration of both fisheries and wildlife programs if the two closely
related small bureaus were merged into one larger group. This has been the trend
of government for many years and, with the exception of the recommendations for
the transfer of the commercial fishery activities to the Department of Commerce,
was also the philosophy of the Hoover Commission.
When the merger of the Biological Survey and the Bureau of Fisheries came
about in 1940, the Biological Survey was on its way back into public esteem under
the leadership of Dr. Gabrielson. It was, therefore, logical that he should be-
come the first Director of the new Fish and Wildlife Service. As a minor employee
in Washington at the tim: of this "shotgun wedding" of the two Bureaus, with Sec-
retary Ickes, incidentally, holding the old double-barreled gun on us, I can per-
sonally testify that it was an unpopular move with the employees of both Bureaus,
particularly those who revere tradition and the "good old days" of the past. I
also know that the proposal to return to those "good old days" does not fall upon
completely unsympathetic ears with some of the present organization. It is dif-
ficult to understand their philosophy, because I cannot think of a single individual
who has not personally benefited in rank and salary by the creation of a larger
and more important agency. With some, tradition is truly a potent factor.
But, of more importance to you and the other people we are paid to serve,
did the mandatory trip to the altar pay off? Let us merely check the records.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISHERY WORK
First, let's review the appropriations for fishery work for the past 20 years--
the ten years of operations under the present Fish and Wildlife Service and,the
ten years immediately preceding. Granted that during recent years, the costs of
operations have risen and appropriations have been more liberal to take care of
these factors, appropriation figures are probably still the best over-all yard-
stick to measure the services the Government gives its citizens in matters per-
taining to the fisheries.
A FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PATROL BOAT (BLUE WING) IN ALASKA.
6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
In 1930, Federal fishery appropriations amounted to $2,498,550; in 1940,
$2,421,075. That represents a decrease duringthe 10-year periodof almost $100,000.
The average for that period was approximately $2,000,000 per year. The fishery
appropriations for the fiscal year 1950 amount to $10,875,251. Of even greater
Significance, the Budget which the President sent to the Congress recently and
which Fish and Wildlife Service representatives justified before the Appropria-
tions Committees several weeks ago carries proposed appropriations for fishery
items amounting to approximately $12,000,000 for the fiscal year beginning next
July 1.
To be more specific as to items in which you are most interested, the work
of the Branch of Commercial Fisheries received $229,540 in 1940; $668,500 in 1950.
The Branch of Fishery Biology received $390,835 in 1940 as compared with $1,546,000
in 1950; Alaska Fisheries, including the Pribilofs, from $516,460 to $1,480,100
in those 10 years. And the wildlife appropriations have likewise increased at
the same time. In 1940, they amounted to $6,149,343, almost three times the then
appropriated sums for fishery activities. For 1950, they amounted to $16,502,049.
This sum included Duck Stamp and Pittman-Robertson revenues.
EXPLORATORY FISHERIES RESEARCH
At the time of the merger, not a single research or exploratory vessel was
owned and operated by the Bureau of Fisheries. Now, the Albatross III is carrying
_ on investigations extending
from the Grand Banks to the
Carolinas on the Atlantic
Coast. Within recent months,
two vessels, the Oregon and
Alaska, have been acquired
through special legislation
and appropriations and are
now stationed in the Gulf of
Mexico. One will do explora-
tory fishing and the other
will do biological research.
Anew vessel, the JohnN. Cobb,
was commissioned at Seattle,
Washington, in January 1950
to carry out exploratory and
- . “Ss experimental fishing in the
Hoe ee ee
mae naneeetanic CONVERSION AT PASCAGOULA, aes iz into Arctic ROELE The Bises
Douglas is carrying on ex-
perimental and biological work
in an effort to find answers to some of the perplexing problems surrounding the
pilchard fishery off the coast of California and lower Mexico. The Hugh M. Smith
is conducting biological and oceanographic research, while the H enry O'Malley and and
the John R, Manningare doing exploratory fishing in the waters of the South Pacific
in a program that has been developed in close cooperation with the tuna fishing
industry of the West Coast. The Spencer F. Baird, the Theodore N. Gill, and the
David Starr Jordan, three well-equipped research and exploratory ‘vessels, are
now now completing a five-year study of the South Pacifie fisheries in connection
with the rehabilitation of the Philippines. It is planned that the Theodore N. Gill
will soon be stationed in the Great Lakes to undertake the difficult study < of the
decline in that great fishery, made possible by special legislation and appro-
Mareh 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7
priations passed by this Congress. And that adds up to 11 large vessels compared
with not a single one at the time of the merger.
In the entire previous history of the Bureau of Fisheries, reaching back to
1871, in fact, there were never at one time more than three ships doing that sort
of work and that occurred for only two years. None had been in service since
1932--eight years before the merger.
FISHERIES LABORATORIES REHABILITATED
Ten years ago, the famous laboratory at Woods Hole, steeped in traditions
of fishery research and oceanography since the days of Spencer Fullerton Baird,
had been virtually abandoned. Within the past two years, we have rehabilitated
the station, have transferred the scientific staff of the New England area there
for headquarters, and the Albatross III is now berthed at Woods Hole.
The Laboratory at Beaufort, North Carolina, is being reconditioned and im-
portant studies in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission are being con-
ducted at that point.
A new laboratory is being constructed in Hawaii and the technology laboratory
at Ketchikan, Alaska, has within recent months been enlarged and expanded. During
that decade, a small laboratory was constructed in Puerto Rico, and fisheries
research in the Caribbean area was carried on. In addition, the research stations
at College Park, Maryland; Milford, Connecticut; Seattle, Washington; and Pensacola,
Florida; have been expanded.
SERVICE PARTICIPATES IN INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES MATTERS
Never in the 80 years of Government participation in matters pertaining to
the fisheries has there been such great activity in the international field as
there has been during the past few years. That is perfectly logical because of
the increasing influence of the United States in world affairs. I should like
to cite some of the more recent developments, however, as proof that fishery matters
are not suffering at the hand of the present organization.
The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention, concluded just a year ago and
ratified by the President last September 1, brings 11 Nations having common in-
terests in the North Atlantic fishing grounds under Treaty arrangements for the
first time in history. The fisheries of this great area have been the battle-
ground for some exceedingly tough international problems that date back to days
prior to American independence.
A Convention between the United States and Mexico for the establishment of
an International Commission for the Scientific Investigation of Tuna was signed
at Mexico City in January 1949, and has been ratified by the President. A sim-
ilar Convention between the United States and Costa Rica for the establishment
of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was signedat Washington in May 1949,
and was ratified by the President on September 1, 1949.
Three years ago, 22 nations, including Canada and the United States, met in
Washington and arrived at an international agreement which established the Inter-
national Whaling Commission, empowered to conduct investigations and regulate
whaling throughout all the marine waters of the globe.
8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
In 1946, aTreaty was negotiated with Canada for the protection and management
of the Great Lakes fisheries. This, so far, has been the least effective of the
Treaty programs because of opposition of one or two States surrounding the Great
Lakes.
I have mentioned some of the more recent developments, but I should record
also the continuing activities in connection with the Sockeye Salmon Commission
which came into being in 1936, and which has now assumed regulatory powers after
the first ten years of investigation. This has included the construction of the
$2,000,000 fishway at Hells Gate on the Fraser River. I serve as one of the Amer-
ican members of this Commission. Assistant Director James is a member of the
Halibut Commission, established in 1937, which has done a remarkable job of re-
storing the stocks of halibut along the stretches of the North Pacific Coast.
ALASKA FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
In the field of management of the fisheries of Alaska, I am proud of the
progress that is being made. For the first time in history, we are now developing
a closely integrated program, using all available manpower and equipment for en-
forcing both the fishery and wildlife laws and regulations in a joint operation.
Enforcement of the fishery regulations is now vastly improved because of the use
of Alaska game agents as well as about a dozen transferred from the States each
season.
During the war years, the fishing regulations were probably more liberal
than they should have been. This was due to the pressure for food for our own
people and our allies. Many of our trained personnel were in the Army and Navy
and many Service ships were devoted to military uses. Inadequate observations
and patrol, together with overfishing, created a serious depletion in the Alaska
fishery. I am happy to say that it looks as though the situation is improving
rapidly. Following severe restrictions during the past three years, the South-
eastern Alaska pack of pink salmon responded to the point where the pack last year
not only returned to but also exceeded the previous normal 20-year average.
Two large vessels have recently been secured by transfer from the Navy to
augment our Alaskan fleet, and several smaller ships have been built as a result
of new appropriations by the Congress. In the Service's combined Alaskan op-
erations, there are now owned and operated 18 vessels ranging from 40 feet to
150 feet in size, with 11 additional patrol vessels ranging from 30 to 40 feet.
There are also about 100 speed boats used in fishery patrol. Within the past
three months, the Service has taken over from the Army one of the best equipped
THREE SERVICE PATROL AIRCRAFT USED IN ALASKA, SHOWS PLANES AT JUNEAU AIRPORT.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERI“S REVIZW g)
marine shops on the Pacific Coast. It is located at Juneau and is valued, at
least, at $500,000. Surplus planes have been made available since the end of
the war, and we now have a very excellent fleet of 20 planes which services both
fishery and game agents in the Territory. Congress, last year, appropriated $250 , 000
for a new'airplane hangar and shop at Anchorage, and as a result our facilities
for observation and patrol will be much improved in future years. Moreover, Alaska
regulations are now being made and enforced without fear or favor.
CORRELATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Ten years ago, there were no effective means of correlating the needs of
fish and wildlife with the construction programs of the Army Engineers and the
Bureau of Reclamation. That is not the case today. The Fish and Wildlife Service
maintains a River Basin staff whose responsibility it is to review the plans of
the construction agencies while the projects are in the making. We work in close
coordination with these two bureaus. Much has been done to protect and increase
the fishery potentials in the reservoirs because of this service.
The relations of the Fish and Wildlife Service with the Congress and the
Bureau of the Budget are excellent. The needs of both fisheries and wildlife
are given sympathetic attention both as to appropriations and as to legislation.
This, inmy opinion, is due in large part to the fact that practically every member
of the Congress has a personal interest in something that the Fish and Wildlife
Service is doing. I doubt that there is another single agency of Government that
has such wide interest for so many people as do the varied activities of the Fish
and Wildlife Service.
SPORT FISHING AND HUNTING
Last year, there were 155 million people who bought fishing licenses and
almost 13 million who bought hunting licenses. Another 2 million bought duck
stamps to hunt ducks and geese. Many probably purchased all three kinds of li-
ecenses, but yet the fact remains that approximately one out of every five people
inthe United States is influenced in some degree by the activities of this Service.
As such, the single organization known as the Fish and Wildlife Service wields
muchmore power and influence than either the Bureau of Fisheries or the Biological
Survey ever did before or would ever do again, if they were reconstituted separately.
dary *s
M pes
FISH FACTS
DO YOU KNOW...
That more than half of all species of verte-
brates (animals with backbones) are fish...
--Fishery Leaflet 152
10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
A NEW FISHERY FOR GROOVED SHRIMP IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA
By Clarence P. Idyil**
INTRODUCTION
In early February 1950, reports were received of large landings of grooved
shrimp at Key West, Florida. At the request of the Florida State Board of Con-
servation, a preliminary investigation of this new fishery was made by the Marine
Laboratory of the University of Miami. The purpose of the survey was:
(1) To establish the taxonomic identity and size of the shrimp being
caught,
(2) To determine the location and extent of the new grounds and the
type of bottom being fished.
(3) To estimate the volume of the landings and the number of boats
fishing,
Recommendations were requested concerning the possible need of regulation of the
fishery by the State of Florida. The report of this survey was submitted to the
Board of Conservation on February 14 (Idyll, 1950, 1).
The present paper incorporates the material of the above report and brings
the situation up-to-date concerning landings, the area fished, and other partic-
ulars.
HEADED GROOVED OR BROWN SHRIMP? (PENAEUS DUORARUM), SHOWING SIDE AND TOP VIEW AND IN
DUORARUM D
ACTUAL SIZE. (MIAMI DAILY NEWS, : a
esearch Associate, Marine Laboratory, University of Miami.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
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NEW GROOVED SHRIMP GROUNDS IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA ARE LOCATED NORTH OF A LINE DRAWN FROM
KEY WEST TO LOGGERHEAD KEY IN THE DRY TORTUGAS GROUP, THE AREA PRESENTLY BEING FISHED
EXTENDS A FEW MILES WEST OF LOGGERHEAD KEY, AND |S ABOUT 70 MILES LONG BY ABOUT I5 TO
20 MILES WIDE,
LOCATION AND EXTENT OF THE FISHING GROUNDS
The new shrimp grounds are located north of a line drawn from Key West to
Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas group. The area presently being fished extends
a few miles west of Loggerhead Key, and is about 70 miles long by about 15 to 20
miles wide. When the fishery began, in January and early February, it was con-
centrated on the westerly part of the above area, near Loggerhead Key. More re-
cently, many of the boats have begun to fish closer to Key West, some within 15
miles of the city.
A small amount of successful fishing has been done outside the area des-
cribed above. One boat is reported to have made a small catch in the daytime
12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIZS REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
close to Everglades City. It appears from this that expansion of the grounds
is possible and it is likely that the area fished will be extended in the future.
KIND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SHRIMP CAUGHT
The species of shrimp being caught is Penaeus duorarum, Burkenroad. This
is commonly called the grooved, "Brazilian," brown, brown-spotted, or channel
shrimp. In Key West, it is called the pink or coral shrimp because of its char-
acteristic rosy color. It is marketed as the "Golden Brazilian" and "Golden Impe-
rial Shrimp." The color varies from nearly white to a deep pink. Newly molted
individuals tend to be the lightest in color. The red or pink spot on the side,
which is characteristic of the species (Burkenroad, 1949; Broad, 1949) is distinct
in most freshly-caught individuals, although in a few examined it was missing.
The spot fades after death, and most shrimp did not show it by the time they were
shipped from Key West.
Of 131 shrimp examined aboard a trawler, 75 (57.2%) were males and 56 (42.8%)
were females.
The shrimp caught are of a large size, with those landed averaging from about
26 to 31 to the pound, heads off. This size has remained the same since the fish-
ery began. Part of the catch is discarded as being too small to sell, but the
proportion of undersized individuals is not large, so that there is little waste,
at present, from this source.
MARKETING OF SHRIMP
Wholesale prices asked by dealers, who usually own and outfit the boats,
started out at 55 cents a pound f.o.b. docks; towards the end of February this
price dropped to 45-50 cents a pound. Retail prices in some Northern markets
were originally about 79-85 cents a pound, and these prices fell somewhat as the
volume of landings increased.
The shrimp being caught on the new grounds are firm and of good quality.
They are said to keep well on ice and may be carried for a somewhat longer time
without spoiling than the white shrimp (P. setiferus). The market demand for them
has been good.
FISHING CONDITIONS AND GEAR USED
The shrimp boats operating on the new Key West grounds have encountered cer-
tain difficulties associated with a strange area, night-fishing, and the type of
bottom encountered. The shrimp are found on white coral sand with some mud and
shell and outcroppings of live and dead coral. The latter has caused the loss of
a considerable amount of gear. Some boats have torn or lost several nets, in
ie cases, two in a single night. These nets cost in the neighborhood of $300
each.
Fishing has been done mostly in depths of between 15 and 25 fathoms, with
the favored depths being around 18 to 20 fathoms.
Fishing is done at night, in contrast to the practice in the fishery for
the common or white shrimp (P. setiferus). Some grooved shrimp are caught inthe
daytime, but catches at night are said to be at least three times greater. Grooved-
shrimp fishing in North Carolina and Texas is done at night also. The different
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13
behavior of the grooved shrimp as compared with that of the white shrimp, which
makes this night-fishing necessary, is not fully understood.
Standard fishing practice is employed. A try net, in the form of a minia-
ture trawl,‘is dragged on likely ground until concentrations of shrimp are located.
Then the big trawl is put out. Try-net hauls are of about 5 to 15 minutes dura-
tion, regular hauls are of 2 to 3 hours duration. Three-hour hauls are possible
in this fishery because of the comparatively small number of "trash" fish and
other organisms caught with the shrimp. Three to five, usually four, hauls are
made in a night.
ye,
s
=
™
X
‘
a
Set
We
iustl
ll
SHRIMP BOAT UNLOADING GROOVED OR BROWN SHRIMP AT KEY WEST, FLORIDA. (MLAMI DAILY NEWS )
After sorting, the shrimp are headed aboard the vessel in most cases. Then
they are iced in the hold. Five to ten tons or more of ice are carried by each
boat. The boats stay out from about 3 to 7 days per trip.
14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
At first, no boats carried sonic depth recorders, but several vessels have
recently installed them and many more are expected to do so. These instruments
are almost a necessity in this fishery. There are models at present on the market
which operate in water up to a depth of 200 or 300 feet (33.3 to 50 fathoms) which
will deteet depth differences of less than two feet. The use of these should en-
able the boats to avoid many of the coral rocks which now cause loss of gear.
Originally all the shrimp boats were based at Key West, which is 13 to 6
hours from the fishing grounds. During February, some boats landed their catches
at Everglades City, Goodland Point (Collier City), Naples, Fort Myers, Fort Myers
Beach, Punta Gorda, and Sarasota. These ports are about 7 to 16 hours running time
from the fishing grounds. Shallow channels have made it difficult for the shrimp
boats to land at Everglades City and Naples, but deeper channels are expected to
be dredged.
The boats range from about 45 to 80 feet in length with most of them about
55 feet long. One Texas boat of over 100 feet has been fishing.
Limited ice-making facilities and lack of dock space have handicapped operations
so far. Ice has been shipped by truck from Homestead and Miami. The present rapid
expansion in facilities is expected to overcome these difficulties.
LANDINGS AND NUMBER OF BOATS
Except for small catches, which were the result of experimental fishing, the
first landings of shrimp from the new grounds were made on January 12. January
landings amounted to 25,000 pounds of headed shrimp, equivalent to about 42,000
pounds with heads on (using the standard conversion factor which calculates headed
shrimp to be about 60 percent of the whole animal by weight).
In early February, the number of boats began to increase rapidly and landings
rose in proportion. During the month of February, an estimated 865,000 pounds
(1,442,000 pounds, heads on) were landed at Key West and 405,000 pounds (675,000
pounds, heads on) at west coast Florida ports. This is a total of 1,270,000 pounds
(2,117,000 pounds, heads on) for February. The total Florida landings of shrimp
for all 12 months of 1948 was just under 17 million pounds (heads on).
The wholesale value of the January and February landings from the new grounds
is about $647,500, calculated at 50 cents a pound, heads off.
The average catch per boat has been about 3,000 to 3,500 pounds per trip.
This average has been maintained since the fishery started, except in mid-February
when bad weather interfered with fishing.
Two boats made the first landings in January and by the end of that month,
only four were fishing. By February 8, an estimated 50 boats were operating.
Three days later, about 125 to 175 boats were on the new grounds and more were
arriving daily. By March 1, it is estimated that 250 to 300 boats were fishing
the new grounds, but this figure may be in error since it is difficult to obtain
an accurate count while conditions are changing so rapidly.
Boats are knownto have come to the new fishery from North and South Carolina;
Georgia; the Florida shrimp centers of Fernandina, St. Augustine, and Pensacola;
Alabama; Mississippi; and Texas. No certain reports from Louisiana are at hand,
making it the only South Atlantic and Gulf State not known to have contributed
to the Key West shrimp fishing fleet.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15
HISTORY OF THE FISHERY
Several accounts of the finding of the Key West shrimp grounds are related,
but the generally accepted story is that the grounds were discovered and explored
by S. Salvador Sons, of St. Augustine, associated with Mr. BE. L. Peterson. Ex-
perimental fishing was begun in September 1949 on the basis of accounts of suc-
cessful night-fishing for "red" or grooved shrimp in Texas. Results were en-
couraging and two boats began commercial operations in January 1950. News of the
good catches was soon spread and the rapid expansion followed.
Shrimp populations have doubtless always been present in this area. They
were not discovered before because the presence of coral reefs discouraged serious
trials with commercial gear. In addition, night-fishing was not attempted on a
large scale until recent years, and these shrimp are caught in large numbers only
at night.
POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE FISHERY BY EXPLORATION
Charts showthat there appear to be suitable shrimp areas north of the present
fishing grounds. Exploration of these should be carried out and it is conceivable
that a considerably greater area than is now being fished may prove to be pro-
ductive. The boats are at present reluctant to trawl in unproven areas where
coral rock may cause the loss of gear, but the pressure of the increasing number
of boats will make new exploration essential.
The desirability of exploration between Key West and Apalachicola was mentioned
in a report to the Florida State Board of Conservation (Idyll, 1950, 2). Between
Dry Tortugas and Apalachicola, at varying distances offshore, in 15 to 30 fathoms
of water, lie unexplored bottoms, many of which are believed to be potential sources
of shrimp. These bottoms have been examined in somes instances by divers for sponge
and by members of the Marine Laboratory staff during a brief survey of the sponge
industry. While some areas are unsuitable, there are nevertheless others with
undoubted shrimping potentiality. The shrimp possibilities are also borne out
by the presence of shrimp in the stomachs of red snapper taken from this area.
Exploration of such grounds as these is, as a rule, beyond the financial
ability of the individual fishing operator and it is probably the function of
the State, towhich the industry pays taxes both directly and indirectly, to under-
take such work.
The investigation of new grounds should not be undertaken without the use of
the proper type of sonic depth sounder.
PROBABLE FUTURE OF THE FISHERY
It seems likely that this newly discovered fishery will be of a permanent
nature. Landings per boat may begin to fall off soon. This is to be expected,
since up to now, fishing has been on a virgin stock and fishing operations cannot
help but thin out the population. Expansion of the area fished should keep the
landings at a high level for some time, however, and later a fairly stable fishery
should result.
There is probably no reason to fear a sudden collapse of the fishery. So
much of the area is protected from fishing gear by coral that a natural brake is
applied to fishing intensity. Furthermore, the shrimp is essentially an annual
16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, Now. 3
crop and the catch does not depend on the accumulation of several age groups, as
is the case in most scale or fin fisheries.
The life history of P. duorarum is not as well known as thet of P. setiferus
but it ig believed to be similar for both species. Spawning takes place offshore
and the larval stages later drift to inshore nursery areas. As growth takes place
the shrimp move offshore again. In general, the bigger individuals occur farthest
from the shore.
REGULATION OF THE FISHERY
At present, there appears to be no necessity to regulate the fishery. If,
later, it appears that small shrimp dominate the catches at certain times, it might
be advisable to impose closed seasons. No size limits are necessary now, since
the fishery is taking mostly large individuals.
LITERATURE CITED
BROAD, CARTER
1949. Identification of the commercial common shrimp species, U. S, Fish and Wildlife
Service, Commercial Fisheries Review, December 1949, vol, 11, no. 12,
BURKENROAD, M, D,
1949, Occurrence and life histories of commercial shrimp, Science, vol. 110, no. 2869,
IDYLL, C, P.
1950, 1. Report on the newly developed Key West shrimp fishery, Report of Marine Lab.,
Univ, of Miami, to Florida State Board of Conservation, Tallahassee, Fla,
1950, 2. Report on the present status of the Franklin County shrimp industry, Revort
of Marine Lab., Univ. of Miami, to Florida State Board of Conservation,
Tallahassee, Fla,
That oysters of
varying species are
found along almost
every seacoast of the
world wherever the
water at some period
of the year reaches
a temperature of 70
degrees F, or above.
OYSTERS IN THE SHELL ARE BARRELED FOR SHIPMENT AT A
DOCK ON LONG ISLAND,
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
VITAMIN A IN 155 GRAYFISH LIVERS
le?
Van
By F:Bruce Sanford, ** Gilbert A. Holland, **** and Glenn C. Bucher** ** *
ABSTRACT
Data are presented on the analyses of 155 livers taken from grayfisna
(Squalus suckleyi ) caught in otter-trawl gear that was being operated in
the Gulf of Georgia, Washington, May 15, 1945.
%.1 inches in length, and 33 percent were mature,
eraged 30,1 inches in length, and 7 percent were mature,
The male fish averaged
The female fish av-
The analytical data conformed to the findings of earlier studies;
that is, the oil content of the livers and the vitamin A potency of the
liver oil tended to increase as the fish increased in size.
It was also
confirmed that the vitamin A potency of the liver and of the liver oil
varies greatly from one grayfish to another,
Three conclusions were drawn from the work:
1. Care should be taken in sampling grayfish livers,
as otherwise the sample may not be representative
of the lot.
2. There are factors associated with the vitamin A
content of the grayfish livers that have not yet
been determined,
3. The taking of small grayfish is not economically
sound,
INTRODUCTION
At present, knowledge of the
factors associated with the vita-
min A potency of grayfish livers
is based upon measurements made
on less than 1,500 individual
specimens. Because of the great
variation in the vitamin A con-
tent of the individual fish livers,
and the large number of other va-
riables involved, it is difficult
to determine the true factors con-
trolling the vitamin A content of
the livers. For this reason, data
on grayfish caught May 15, 1945,
although based upon only 155 speci-
mens, are presented here in the
belief that they will help in the
eventual clarification of the va-
rious vitamin A relationships.
Grayfish (Squalus suckleyi) Taken
ay 1 194
No, of Fish|Average Length
Number Caught of Fish
Inches
Table 1 = Number, Size, Maturity, and Sex of
Otter-Trawl Drags Made in the Gulf of Georgia,
in Individual
Relative Number’
of Mature and
Immature Fish
Chemist, Fishery Technological Laboratory, Branch of Commercial Fisheries, U, S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Seattle, Washington,
** Biologist, Washington State Department of Fisheries,
*** Chenist, Formerly with the Branch of Commercial Fisheries,
18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
The data are a result of a cooperative project by members of the Washington State
Department of Fisheries and the Seattle Technological Laboratory of the Fish and
Wildlife Service.
SOURCE OF SPECIMENS
Specimens used in this study were obtained by commercial fishermen who were
employing otter-trawl gear in the Gulf of Georgia, a short distance from Blaine,
Washington. Data on the fishing trials are given in Table 1. After the first drag
(1A) had been made, one of the cables attached to an otter-trawl board broke. Ob-
servers immediately transferred to a second trawler fromwhich the next three drags
(2A, 2B, and 2C) were made. Each drag required about two hours and averaged $5
grayfish. Almost all of the fish were small, and only 17 percent were mature.—
PREPARATION OF LIVERS
Earlier work (Pugsley 1943; San-
ford and Bonham 1947; Swain 1947) had
shown that the size, sex, and sexual
maturity of the grayfish are variables
that must be considered if other fac—
tors associated with the vitamin A
content of their livers are to be e-
valuated. Therefore, in the present
study, the sex, sexual maturity, and
length of each fish were noted. The
livers were weighed and then ground
individually ina meat chopper, using
a plate containing holes one-eighth
inch in diameter. The material was
further comminuted ina Waring blendor.
MEASUREMENT OF OIL
AND VITAMIN A
The oil and vitamin A were ex-
tracted using the "shaking method."
Specifically, this method is as follows: Four grams of the liver were weighed
into a tared, 2-ounce bottle. Exactly 25 milliliters of petroleum ether and about
15 grams of anhydrous sodium sulfate were added, and the bottle and its contents
were agitated forl hour by means of a shaking machine. The bottle was centrifuged
and an aliquot portion of the petroleum ether solution was diluted with isopropanol
to such a volume that the optical density of the resulting solution was within
the range 0.2 to 0.8, The density readings were made using a Beckman spectrophoto-
meter.
To determine the oil content of the liver, a 5-milliliter aliquot portion of
the petroleum-ether solution in the shaking bottle was pipetted into a tared, 50-
milliliter Erlenmyer flask, The solvent was evaporated by passing a gentle flow
of air over the solution while the flask was immersed for about 10 minutes in a
water bath at a temperature of 80° to 909 C. The flask and its contents were
allowed to cool at room temperature for 45 minutes and was then weighed.
1/A female was judged to be sexually mature if it had eggs or embryos in the uteri, A male
was judged mature if sperm was present in the seminal vesicle,
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19
Samples were run in duplicate to guard against gross error.
GROUPING OF DATA
Because of the large variability in the properties of the individual livers,
the trends in the measurements can best be seen by grouping the data and consider-
ing averages rather than individual values. The bases for grouping the data ob-
tained in this study were the sex, sexual maturity, and length of the fish from
which the livers were taken. The length groupings chosen were arbitrarily set
at 2-inch intervals. Thus, for the immature males, the first group was composed
of livers from fish 18.0 to 19.9 inches in length; the second group was composed
of livers from fish 20.0 to 21.9 inches in length; the remaining livers were simi-
larly grouped.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results are given in Table 2. In general, the data show that both the oil con-
tent of the liver and the vitamin A potency of the liver oil increase as the fish
grew in size. However, in spite of grouping the data, these trends are somewhat
obscured. For example, the 31.l-inch males yielded a liver oil of higher vitamin
A potency than the 32.7-inch males.
When the groupings are made larger, the trends become apparent. Thus, when
a weighted average of the data was taken, the oil content of the livers of the
immature males was 54.7 percent in contrast to 58.9 percent for the livers of the
mature males. The immature females had livers containing an average of 65.2 per-
cent oil as compared to 67.7 percent for the mature females.
The difference between the vitamin A potency of the liver oil of the mature
fish and immature fish was considerable. Liver oil from the immature males aver-
aged 2,810 units of vitamin A per gram whereas the oil from the mature males had
an average potency of 5,270 units. Liver oil from the immature females averaged
4,320 units in comparison to the oil from mature female fish livers which averaged
19,350 units of vitamin A per gram. Thus, while there was great variability be-
tween individual livers, a comparison of the weighted averages for the immature
and mature fish brings out the trends clearly.
The great variability between individual livers or between small groups of
livers should serve as a warning to those in the trade that it is extremely diffi-
cult to obtain a sample that is representative of the lot.
This variability, after the fish have been separated on the basis of sex,
sexual maturity, and length, shows that there are other factors associated with
the vitamin A content of the livers that have not yet been determined.
Of particular interest to the fishermen is the column in Table 2 showing the
average vitamin A content per liver, because it enables him to estimate the value
of the individual fish. For example, the smallest females averaged 0.016 million
units of vitamin A per liver; assuming that the current price of vitamin A is 16
cents a million units, these livers were worth 1/4 cent apiece.
The large grayfish are more valuable than the small ones. This is because
three factors are operating concurrently as the fish increase in size:
20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 225) No.3
1. The livers become larger.
2, The livers tend to contain more oil.
3. The oil tends to contain more vitamin A.
Thus, the largest female reported in Table 2 had a liver which contained 8.36
million units of vitamin A, whereas the smallest females had livers containing
an average of only 0.016 million units. Hence, the fishermen would have to catch,
handle, and remove the livers from 523 of the small fish to obtain the same amount
of vitamin A as is found in the liver of this one large female--dramatic evidence
that the taking of small grayfish is not a sound policy.
Average Average| Average Average Average Average
Length Weight Oi1 Vitamin A Vitamin A Vitamin A
of of Content Potency of Potency of Content per
Livers | of Livers Liver Oil Livers Liver
Millions of Millions of
"Spec" Units "Spec" Units
per lb. of per Liver
Kw
WE c.oWwrF
2
130
62.0 4160
IMMATURE FEMALES
.S
.
Cm aete
wow
:
rf
ane
f> YI DN~TWOVWN nT 9
SI ONT
cor
. e
QVSB
See
AEN S&S
~ImJI~I~J OD
LIP P SP
~~ ~I oon Hy
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21
CONCLUSIONS
(1) There is a great variability in the vitamin A content between individual
grayfish livers or between small groups of the liver; therefore, unless special
techniques are followed in sampling grayfish livers, the sample may not be repre-
sentative cf the lot.
(2) There are major factors associated with the vitamin A content of the
grayfish liver that have not yet been determined.
(3) The taking of small grayfish is not economically sound.
LITERATURE CITED
PUGSLEY, L. I.
1943. Factors influencing the vitamin A and D potency of grayfish liver oil (Squalus
suckleyi, Girard), Journal Fisheries Research Board of Canada, vol. 4, no. 5,
pp. 312-22,
SANFORD, F, BRUCE, and BONHAM, EFLSHAW
1947. Relationship between body length of grayfish and vitamin Ain liver. Commercial
Fisheries Review, vol. 9, no. 9, pp. l-7.
SWAIN, LYLE A,
1947. Vitamin A in dogfish livers, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Progress
Reports of the Pacific Coast Stations, no. 73, p. 57.
Fae,
TROTLINE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE
(CHESAPEAKE BAY TYPE)
Trotlines, as used in the
Clie sapeake Bay area, are usually
made of 3/8-inch diameter cotton
rope and vary from one-quarter
of amileto one mile in length.
At each end of the line an anchor
is placed inthe form of an iron
chain weighing about 10 pounds
anda colored buoy for identifi-
cation and location of the set.
Chain is used instead of a grapnel
because it willallowfor slight
adjustments in "running out" the
line and because it canbe stored
inor near the line barrel with-
out entangling the line.
--Fishery Leaflet 291
22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
IN SERVICE LABORATORIES
Yi
WU DPMP h vss cae mr
JANUARY 1950
REFRIGERATION: An initial examination was made of the five packs of canned
sockeye salmon prepared for the study of methods of handling frozen salmon for
later canning. These packs included the controls prepared from the fresh fish
and packs prepared from glazed and unglazed frozen fish stored for 6 and 16 weeks.
RED OR SOCKEYE SALMON
(ONCORHYNCHUS NERKA)
In each examination, the control samples were compared to samples of an experi-
mental pack. Although the examinations are to be repeated several times in order
to obtain representative judgments, the following observations indicate the trend
in the samples examined: ®
1, Control packs received tne highest average score in all cases,
There was little difference between the control samples and
those prepared from salmon frozen, glazed, and stored for 6
weeks,
2. Sockeye salmon which was canned after being frozen, glazed,
and stored for 16 weeks was approximately equivalent in
quality to saloon which was canned after being frozen and
stored for 6 weeks with no glaze, Both were significantly
lower in quality than control samples,
Sie Sockeye salmon which was canned after being frozen and stored
for 16 weeks with no glaze received the lowest score and was
judged of poor quality because of excessive curd and dis-
coloration on the surface flesh, an undesirable dry texture,
and presence of off-flavor in the skin and fat.
* * *
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25
Approximately 100 packages of frozen oysters have been prepared for studies
on the darkening which reportedly occurs in frozen oysters during storage. In-
cluded in methods of preparation are ascorbic acid dips, added ascorbic acid and
citric acid, and glazes with water and ascorbic acid solution.
* OK OK
After 10 months of storage at 0° F., the pan-dressed striped bass that were
first wrapped in vegetable parchment, then dipped in water, followed by wrapping
in moisture-vapor-proof material and freezing, are still well coated with ice
and show no discoloration and desiccation. Fish prepared by the usual methods
show considerable localized desiccation, extreme drying of the skin, and dis-
coloration.
* Ok O*
Tests on frozen pink salmon after 5 months of storage indicate:
1, There were no significant improvements in quality of the
product by using polyetnylene bags or wraps compared to
pliofilm bags and cellophane wraps.
2. Fillets dipped in 0, 5% ascorbyl palmitate showed a marked
improvement when compared to undipped fillets.
3. Fillets glazed with 1% ascorbic acid show no improvement in
quality compared to fillets glazed with plain water,
4, Fillets dipped in 2 ascorbic acid show a marked improvement
when compared to undipped fillets.
* Ok x
PRESERVATION: Tests on use of benzoates and substituted benzoates for pres-
ervation of salmon eggs at low temperatures are continuing and it appears that
these preservatives which were relatively ineffective at the high (99° F.) ac-
celerated storage temperatures may be practical at temperatures of 60° F. or less.
* OK O*
SANITATION AND QUALITY CONTROL: The pH determinations have been conducted on
the oyster liquor, ground individual oysters,
three oysters ground together, and six oysters,
ground together. The average pH values of the |single oyster
samples examined so far, taken immediately after Three oysters
blowing, are as indicated to the right. Six oysters
Liquor
The range in pH of the ground fresh meats
is staying within rather narrow limits, being between 6.50 and 6.62 for the stand-
ards, and 6.56 and 6.68 for the selects. At the same time, the range in pH of the
liquor has been between 6.70 and 6.82 for the standards, and 6.80 and 6.82 for
the selects.
Blowing seemingly has very little effect on pH of the oysters, since the
values for oysters taken prior to blowing fall within the ranges given above for
blown oysters. The water used for blowing at one point has a pH of 7.82 but this
value drops to about 7.10 after a few minutes of blowing.
24 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
A gradual drop in pH occurs during storage of the shucked oysters at ice
temperature. As before, the values stay within a rather narrow range for any
particular lot. Spoilage has occurred so far at a pH between about 5.9 and 5.7.
x * *
NUTRITION: Samples of hatchery feed now in use by Washington State Fisheries
Department were procured and gross chemical composition is being run. This work
is being undertaken in connection with that portion of the hatchery program dealing
with the State and Federal hatcheries trying out each others standard diets.
1 cup clams, ground 1 egg, beaten
1 cup sifted flour * cup milk
14 teaspoons baking powder | 1 teaspoon melted fat
teaspoon salt
Sift dry ingredients together. Combine the beaten egg,
milk, and fat. Add gradually to the dry ingredients, then
add the clams. Heat fat to 3759 F, Drop the mixture by spoon-
fuls into the hot fat, and fry until golden brown (2 to 3
minutes). Remove fritters and drain on absorbent paper. Serves 6.
A Fish and Wildlife Service tested recipe. This is one
in the series of recipes using fishery products tested and
developed in the Service's test kitchens.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25
=1RENDS & ==
2 AND
Retr LLOPMENTS Se
Additions to the Fleet of U. S. Fishing Vessels
Vessels Obtaining Their First Documents as Fishing Craft,
First documents as fish— December 1949 and Annual Totals for 1949 and 1948
ing craft were issued for 63
vessels of 5-net tons and over Section EE
during December 19/,9--4 more
than in December 1948, accord |°* icienens si /eaehedeiche
ing to the Bureau of Customs
of the Treasury Department. |gouin Atlantic and Gulf ..
Virginia led with 9 vessels, pacific Coast
followed by South Carolina |Great Lakes ..........-.
and California with 7 vessels ololaievetelelaioteresers
each, Vessels documented dur- ii
ing 1949 totaled 1,002, com-—
pared with 1,184 during 1948. ee ee eee
Vessels have beer assigned to he various sections
eeccoe
on the basis of their home ports,
Alaska Commercial Fishery Regulations Revised for |950
Changes in the regulations for the protection of the commercial fisheries of
Alaska for 1950 were issued by the Secretary of the Interior on March 4.
The new regulations are based upon investigations and recommendations of Fish
and Wildlife Service personnel, testimony presented at public hearings conducted
by the Service at 10 places in Alaska and at Seattle, Washington, and upon written
briefs submitted by those interested in the Alaska fishing industry.
BRISTOL BAY POWER BOATS: Under the new regulations, commencing in 1951, the
use of. motive power will be permitted for Bristol Bay fishing boats of less than
32 feet in length. Advisability of replacing the traditional fleet of gill—net
sailboats with motorboats has been the subject of controversy for several years.
The Fish and Wildlife Service now possesses sufficient enforcement facilities and
scientific knowledge to protect the runs against undue depletion, despite the
type of motive power utilized in the fishing boats. The amended regulation merely
permits, and does not require, the use of power; the one-year delay is provided to
give everyone equal and ample opportunity to effect the change-over, if desired.
26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
FISHING SEASONS: In three major areas, fishing seasons have been shortened
and in two others, they have been slightly liberalized. A uniform closure will
apply to the entire Kodiak Area from July15 to 31, with the limited exception of
certain recognized red salmon localities. Seasonal opening and closing dates in
Kodiak otherwise remain the same as last year. The fishing season in Resurrection
Bay Area will open July 1 instead of June 1, as previously. The general Yakutat
fishing season will open July 1, although the king salmon fishery in Dry Bay will
be permitted.to commence on June 1. Seine and trap fishing in Southeastern Alaska
is permitted from August 15 to September 3, much the same as last year.
ARCTIC
Seward Peninsula
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igi)
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BRISTOL BAY
HERRING FISHERY: A new principle is inaugurated this year in the management
of the herring quota areas of Kodiak and Resurrection Bay—Prince William Sound.
Instead of frequent quota adjustments, based on predictions of availability of
supply resulting from analysis of catch data from preceding seasons, these twoareas
will operate under annual quotas, which are stabilized for a three-year period
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27
and are largely based on previous average productivity. The Kodiak quota is set
at 275,000 barrels of herring and the Resurrection Bay-Prince William Sound quota
is 180,000 for each of the years, 1950, 1951, and 1952. The quota-season has also
been shortened in each area; Kodiak's will end September 30 and at Resurrection
Bay-Prince William Sound's, August 10. Herring may be caught subsequent to these
dates without regard to the quota limit because the fall runs are believed distinct
and not sufficiently in need of such protection. This situation has been emphasized
by the herring operators of the Kodiak Area, and it will be observed closely in
the coming season, during which further adjustments can be made if desirable.
The herring fishery of the Southeastern Alaska Area will continue to be man-
aged accordingto principles previously in use; that is, annual adjustment of quotas
based upon developments in the years immediately preceding. A currently prevail-
ing natural scarcity of herring in this area makes it necessary to hold the 1950
quota to the comparatively low limit of 150,000 barrels.
Lesser amendments relating to the herring fishery include removal of the pro-
hibition against use of pounds on herring spawning grounds, although sucha restric-
tion continues specifically on the Fish Egg Island grounds, near Craig. The
area closed to herring fishing along the western shore of Admiralty Island is ex-
tended to include the entire side of the Island between Point Gardner and Point
Retreat in order to protect small populations of fish in two Bays at the northern
end.
GENERAL REGULATIONS OF TERRITORY-WIDE APPLICATION: Other significant amend-
ee Oe SS Oe
in which they are effective:
In addition to the previously required registration of fishing boats and pro-
cessing operations in advance of seasonal activities, operators are now required
to notify the Fish and Wildlife Service before moving to a new area or district.
An accurate registration system will give the Service current knowledge of the
amount of fishing gear in operation in each district, thus making possible effec—
tive management of fisheries. Local representatives of the Service will serve
as registration agents and are defined according to the towns at which they are
stationed.
In conformance with the standardized winter-troll closure recanmended by the
Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission for the entire Pacific Coast, trolling for king
salmon in the outside waters of Alaska is prohibited from November 1 to March 15,
and for coho salmon from November 1 to June 15., The fall-troll closure in inside
waters has now been shortened to extend only from September 20 to October 5 to
conform to the special seining season which opens in several places in Southeastern
Alaska on October 5. The prohibition against the taking of undersized king salmon,
which formerly applied only to trolling, is now extended to all forms of gear.
Identifying names and numbers on fishing boats andnet floats must consist of lines
at least one-inch wide so that they may be readily distinguished.
Three general regulations pertaining to fish traps have been entirely deleted:
one prescribing the rights of natives to trap-site privileges on land set aside
for their special occupancy, another requiring the filing of trap-site locations
with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and a third specifying methods of determining
priorities of applicants for the same trap site. Further, a trap is now defined
specifically so that any net or other device which is set or operated in the manner
of a trap shall be subject to all the regulations pertaining to traps.
28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
The minimum legal size of king crab is increased from 5-1/2 to 6-1/2 inches
in width of shell.
Bering Sea: The use of motors in gill-net fishing boats is no longer pro-—
hibited in the Kotzebue-Yukon—Kuskokwim Area.
Bristol Bay Area: The regulation pertaining to the Hagemeister regulatory
district has been deleted inasmuch as no commercial fishery has existed in that
section for many years. Methods of marking and registering fishing boats have been
amended to require that the numbers and letters be at least 12 inches in height and
that each boat be lettered to indicate the district in which it operates. Boats
must not only be registered prior to the fishing season with the Fish and Wildlife
Service but must also reregister in advance of moving to another district. To
counteract the growing tendency to operate set nets far offshore on shallow beaches,
it is now illegal to set any net at a distance greater than 150 yards from the
mean high tide mark.
Regulations for 1950 are based on the premise that no more than the recom—
mended maximum of 426 drift gill-net boats will be operated in the entire Bristol
Bay Area.
Alaska Peninsula Area: No change is made in the fishing season fram the dates
of last year; except for Port Moller, fishing will end throughout the district on
August 5 unless escapements are so good as to warrant local extensions. Motive
power is no longer prohibited in the gill-net boats of the Chignik Area. Thin
Point Cove has been closed to commercial fishing to protect its runs of red sal-
mon. Canoe Bay is closed toking crab fishing because it is recognized as a spawn—
ing and nursery ground for that species.
Kodiak Area: A closed season is established from July 15 to 31 generally
throughout the Kodiak Area in order to protect the runs of pink salmon, which
have been showing a distinctly downward trend in recent years. Exceptions to
the closure will apply only to certain predominantly red salmon localities where
the catch of that species is controlled by weir counts and where the abundance
of pink salmon is not an important factor. Kaiugnak Bay and Sukhoi Lagoon are
closed to commercial salmon fishing.
Cook Inlet Area: No change is made in the seasonal dates normally govern—
ing even-year operations and the weekly closed period will remain the same as
last year. However, the tremendous increase in amount of fishing gear which has
come into the Inlet during the last two years is causing grave concern for the
conservation of the salmon runs. A complete analysis of the situation is now
being made for the purpose of determining the amount of closed time which should
be applied to fishing each week to compensate for any further increase in total
amount of gear during 1950. Compensatory weekly closing restrictions will be
imposed if there is any increase in intensity of fishing over that of 1949. Nets
must now be marked with letters at least 6 inches high instead of the 4 inches
previously required. Drift, as well as fixed, gear must never be operated less
than 600 feet from any other gear.
Resurrection Bay Area: Catches of red salmon. in this locality have dwindled
to such an extent that the species is being accorded almost complete protection
from commercial capture by keeping the season closed until the first of July,
one full month later than in previous years.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29
Prince William Sound and Copper River
Areas: The closing date for red salmon
fishing on Copper River is changed to June
20, 5 days later than last season. Port
Chalmers on Montague Island is closed to
all salmon fishing. Catches of set nets in
the Eshamy section must be reported daily
to the Fish. and Wildlife Service after the
general trap andseine season closes August
7 on Prince WilliamSound, This special re-
porting procedure is intended to prevent
use of this locality's special late season
as a loophole for declaring catches taken
illegally elsewhere. In order to make the
annual quota of razor clams more complete—
ty available to industry, the fall sub—
quota is reduced from 3,000 to 1,000 cases
and the difference is added to the spring
subquota. The closed season on crab fish-
ing in the waters of Orca Inlet, near Cor—
dova, is extended to October 31 to pre-
vent fishing during a period of low qual-
ity. SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA
Yakutat Area: Yakutat no longer constitutes a District in the Southeastern
Alaska Area, but is now a distinct Area by itself. The regulations are completely
revised to reflect its new status and to provide more realistic and effective
management of the salmon runs under present conditions. Because of the serious
shortage of red and king salmon in the major streams, due in large part to over-—
fishing, the season opening has been delayed approximately two weeks to increase
early escapement. Although Dry Bay will open on June 1, the rest of the Area will
remain closed until July 1. Numerous minor adjustments are made in the regulations
specifically affecting this fishery; these include reopening of Ankau Inlet to
fishing, increasing the maximum allowable length of set nets in Yakutat Bay to
75 fathoms, and increasing the size of the closed area at the mouth of the Situk
River.
Southeastern Alaska Area: The opening date for all trap and seine fishing
will be August 15.. This is the same date on which fishing began last year, and
it is hoped that similarly beneficial results will accrue to pink salmon escape-
ments. The Fish and Wildlife Service will keep a close watch on the various dis—
tricts prior to August 15, and earlier local openings will be permitted if sup—
plies of salmon surplus to spawning needs are available without jeopardy to less
favored runs.
Consistent with the policy of permitting gill-netting in all localities sus-
ceptible to legitimate exploitation by this formof gear, the Port Snettisham region
and the Stikine District have been enlarged to provide larger fields of operation.
Likewise, Burroughs Bay, at the mouth of the Unuk River, is declared open to gill—
netting during the seining season in the Southern district. A considerable in-
crease in the number of gill-netters fishing the Port Snettisham region has made
it necessary to reduce the maximum length of nets to 150 fathoms, the same limit
that applies in nearby Taku Inlet.
Beach seining, which is permitted only in Wrangell Narrows, is more rigidly
described in order to prevent confusion with gill-netting operations. No change
30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
has been made in the provisions affecting the special fall-seining areas, except
that reporting of catches to the Fish and Wildlife Service has been liberalized to
a daily instead of an immediate requirement. Although the current amendments to
the regulations affecting the Southeastern Alaska area are quite numerous, most of
them are for purposes of simplification and clarity only and little or no change
in substance or meaning is involved.
>
Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Trends for 1949
Economic conditions in the Chesapeake Bay fisheries were unsettled during
1949, according to the Service's Fishery Marketing Specialist stationed in Vir-
ginia. This was due, in some cases, to a shortage of fish and increased compe—
tition from other sections of the country. Prices at the beginning of 1949 gen-
erally held up better than expected.
MENHADEN INDUSTRY: Virginia's menhaden production by 18 vessels during 1949
amounted to 134 million pounds (200 million fish). In spite of the use of planes
during the year to scout for fish, the preduction was less than for 1948 when 19
vessels caught 153 million pounds (228 million fish). In 1947, the catch was 178
million pounds (266 million fish). A greater number of fish during 1949 were
found in the Bay than for several previous years when most of the fishing took
place in the ocean.
Menhaden oil prices dropped from the 1948 high of $1.40 a gallon to 40 cents
a gallon and remained at that level in 1949. However, lower oil prices were partly
compensated by an increase in scrap prices to $150 per ton--$50 over the 1948
price.
Two versions of a floating trawl were developed independently by menhaden
operators, but tests were suspended at the close of the season due to negative
results.
Two of the six menhaden plants operating in the State installed equipment
for manufacturing fish solubles from stickwater. Other plants are planning to
install this equipment also.
FISHING CRAFT DOCKED AT HAMPTON, VIRGINIA. ON THE LEFT ARE TWO OYSTER DREDGERS; 1N THE
CENTER, TWO DRAGGERS; AND ON THE EXTREME RIGHT, TWO CRAB BOATS.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31
CROAKER FISHERY: Although the catch of croakers during 1949 was still in the
millions of pounds, its sharp decline from its position among the volume leaders
was impressive. Occasional large catches were still made, but they were spotty.
Ocean trawlers brought in only a comparatively small amount, but the catches of
porgy and sea bass from the same fishing areas were abundant.
OTHER FISHERIES: The shad run, which consisted mainly of small fish (seldom
exceeding 33 pounds) spawning for the first time, was moderate but not as large
as expected. Roe shad at the beginning of the season sold as high as 52 cents
per pound at the dock.
Alewives or river herring were present in Virginia waters in the greatest
numbers since 1943. Canning, salting, and pickling plants worked at capacity.
As the season advanced, fishermen were forced to take price cuts of more than 50
percent in order to sell their catches. Canners reported that lack of demand
might force them to market canned and salted alewives at a sacrifice. According
to the packers, lack of demand was due to increased supplies of imported herring
and canned sardines, and larger available supplies of domestically-canned sar-
dines, salmon, and tuna. Canned roe, however, found a ready market.
Pearl—essence processing plants in this area reopened during the year since
the heavy production of alewives yielded a sufficient supply of scales.
Some sectional shortages were experienced by the oyster industry, but packers
in these areas were able to operate by obtaining oysters from other localities.
Acreage leased by the State of Virginia for oyster planting increased stead-
ily during the year to a total of 100,000 acres, while Maryland's private oyster-—
planting beds totaled only 8,000 acres.
Since soft and hard crabs were plentiful in 1949, at times, supplies reached
glut proportions, and prices paid to the crabbers dropped. Winter dredgers were
forced to limit their crab catches in December in order to keep from oversupply—
ing the crab-picking plants.
The number of crab pots operated in Virginia increased to 50,000 and in Ma-
ryland to about 25,000--both all-time records.
FREEZING OF FISHERY PRODUCTS: Some filleting, freezing, and packaging of
fish took place in this area, but it was still in its preliminary stages, according
to some producers. Production of frozen oysters and clams increased moderately.
<p
ECA Procurement Authorizations for Fishery Products
There was only one transaction for fishery products among the procurement
authorizations for commodities and raw materials announced by the Kconomic Cooper—
ation Administration during January 1950. This transaction was an authorization
of $593,000 for the purchase of fish oil (menhaden) from the United States and
Possessions for shipment to the Federal German Republic. The U. S. Department
of Agriculture was the procuring agency.
32 COMMERCIAL FISHSHIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
A total of $35,804,911 was authorized for fishery products (including fish
meal and oils) by ECA from April 1, 1948 (the beginning of the HCA program) through
January 31, 1950.
Western European countries took a
long step toward the solution of their
economic difficulties during the third
quarter of 1949 by drastically devalu-
ating their currencies and thus bring-—
_ing their price levels more nearly in
line with those prevailing in the hard
currency areas, ECA reported during Janu-
ary in its sixth report to Congress,
covering the period from July 1 to Sep—
tember 30. ECA pointed out that this
action paved the way for a direct attack
on the chief problems of the Marshall
Plan countries—the gap in their balance
of payments with the hard currency areas,
the inconvertibility of their currencies,
and the obstructions to the movement of
trade. The rise indomestic prices since
devaluation in almost all cases has been
modest thus far. Almost all of the rise has been the result of the increased cost
of imports in domestic currencies. Improvement inthe diet of the European peoples
both in quantity and quality, is also manifest.
ECA's Office of Small Businessis providing small firms with advance informa—
tion on purchases to be made in this country by Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and
Turkey. With this information, American concerns have leads as to where there
are opportunities to market their products abroad. However, to date no fishery
products have been included. A January 12 ECA release reported that more than
250 banking and business service leaders in 29 States now are serving as unoffi-
cial Marshall Plan field counselors to small businessmen.
Federal Purchases of Fishery Products
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, December 1949: .Fresh and frozen fishery products
purchased by the Army Quartermaster Corps during December 1949 for the U. S. Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for military feeding and a small amount for
relief feeding amounted to 1,430,900 pounds (valued at $495,747). Although Decem—
ber's purchases were practically at the same level as the previous month, the
value of December's purchases was 2 percent below the corresponding month a year
ago.
Purchases of Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products by Department of the Army
— and Totals for 12 Months, 1949 and 1948)
a a ae
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33
Total purchases for the year 1949 totaled 17,473,642 pounds (valued at
$5,862,011), compared with 16,495,000 pounds (valued at $5,957,000) in 1948.
Thghy
Fishery Biology Notes
ANNUAL INVENTORY OF OYSTERS ON PUBLIC BEDS OF MARYLAND AND ae Annual
inventory of oysters on public beds of Maryland and Virginia was made during the
last quarter of last year in cooperation with the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
and Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, according to the Service's Chesapeake Bay In—
vestigations.
i Maryland: About 150 stations on different bars in the Chesapeake Bay and
major tributaries were examined (Table 1). This did not complete the coverage
planned but gave sufficient information for drawing some preliminary conclusions.
Recruitment, indi-
able 1 = of the land Oyster Distribution, 1949 cated by spat count, for
peste “No. of a ze No. Oysters Per Bushel | most of the Bay and tribu-
Location tations ere ee taries was sufficient to
replace oysters removed
during the 1949 harvest—
ing except on isolated
bars. This was true al-
so in 1948. Effect of
the low rate of recruit—
ment for two years will
be reflected undoubtedly
Have not been analyzed inreduced oyster yields
two and three years hence.
woo OO.\Ww>
& tributaries
The relative failure of setting in 1949 in Eastern Bay (one of the major seed
areas) will reduce seed available for transplanting. Setting in other seed areas,
Holland Straits and St. Marys River, was adequate and offsets to some extent the
failure in Eastern Bay. The development of three major seed areas at widely sep—
arated locations was designed originally to lessen the possibility of complete
loss of seed in any one year. This premise has been borne out in this and other
years. In 1948, Eastern Bay produced adequate seed, 776 spat per bushel of shell,
while the set of 293 in Holland Straits was not sufficient for seed use.
For the current season, the available crop of oysters is less than that har-—
vested in 1948, and the developing crop to be harvested in 1950-51 (as shown by
the number of small oysters) suggests another low yield.
Virginia: In four of RISE
the major tributaries onthe 2 - Summary of the Virginia Oyster Distribution, 154
r TY,
weetern side lof Chesapeake i coe of |Average No. Oysters Per Bushel
Location tations Market]
28. g
Bay , 51 stations were ex— eanel SE a az
amined (Table 2). AEETORoaIs Ine
Corrotoman River..
Setting of oysters on jPames River:
natural beds in the Rappa— | Public Tonging..
hannock River was not abun- L_Seed Area ....--
34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
dant but adequate for minimum replacement on tonging beds. The Corrotoman and
Piankatank Rivers had much higher setting rates. Conditions in the two latter
rivers showed excellent potentialities for development of seed beds. These three
rivers converge at Chesapeake Bay, the Corrotoman north and the Piankatank south
at the entrance of the Rappahannock. Commonto these three rivers and characteris—
tic of many of the tributaries of Chesapeake Bay is the gradual diminishing of the
numbers of spat as the beds are located farther away from the entrance of the
rivers into the Bay. Setting rate was reflected in the number of older oysters
in the population.
In the lower part of each river, marketable oysters were found in sufficient
quantity to yield a fair harvest for the present season. The number of small
oysters indicated at least the same amount available for the 1950-51 season. To
predict beyond that on the basis of the 1949 recruitment would not be reliable
because of lack of accumulated records on survival of spat, Fewer large and small
oysters are found in the upper part of each river, This survey represents initi-
ation of an inventory program for Virginia.
Natural oyster beds in the James River are divided as follows: beds below
the bridge producing large oysters for the regular oyster trade and beds above
the bridge producing seed oysters for transplanting. These latter beds represent
the most prolific and sustained seed source in the world, yielding annually more
than 1,500,000 bushels of fine seed oysters on natural cultch.
The 1949 spatfall was substantial and well distributed, although again in
this river setting was more numerous on the beds in the lower portion of the seed
area. Average 1949 set per bushel of bottom material was about 1,500. Beds in
the lower portion had an average set of about 2,500 spat per bushel, while the set
on beds of the upper portion was 300. The 1949 recruitment was supplemented by
a substantial residue of small oysters from the previous years! setting. In the
lower portion this was approximately 1,000 and in the upper portion slightly more
than 300. Supply of seed, which is a combined population of small oysters and
1949 set, is substantial and in 1950 should provide a large source of seed for
the extensive private oyster industry in the State. This should be a factor in
maintaining high production for the harvest several years hence.
Public tonging beds below the bridge had a relatively high 1949 recruitment ,.
a good supply of large oysters for the 1949 harvest, and a sufficient number of
small oysters for the 1950-51 yield.
Barring spring freshets and extensive predator damage, the current and future
production of both seed and marketable large oysters from the James River should
be good.
The Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, the Service's Chesapeake Bay Investiga—
tions, and the Chesapeake Bay Institute of Johns Hopkins University, have planned
a hydrographical and biological study of the James River seed area. The work,
which will start in June, should answer some questions that have long eluded re—
search workers studying factors controlling oyster setting.
RUN OF RED SALMON AT KARLUK, ALASKA (1949): Readings of scales collected at
Karluk, Alaska, during the 1949 field season were‘ completed, according to a Jan-
uary report from the Service's Alaska Fishery Investigations. From these readings
were determined the age composition, by weeks, of the 1949 run and the contribu—
tion to this run made by the various preceding broods.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35
RED OR SOCKEYE SALMON
The total run of red salmon at Karluk in 1949 was 1,141,000 fish, somewhat
less than the average for the past few years. It was found that 53 percent of
the 1949 run was composed of 5-year fish, deriving from the 1944 seeding, while
40 percent were 6-year fish, deriving from the 1943 seeding. The contribution
from the 1943 seeding was considerably less than had been anticipated, and this
factor appears to have been the cause of the run being less than that forecast.
their affect upon fish. Results will be important in carrying out the expanded
program of shad investigations now being started.
which eventually reached the two important spawning areas (Wenatchee and Osoyoos
Lakes) above Rock Island Dam in Washington, according to a December 1949 report
from the Service's North Pacific Fishery Investigations.
This was due in part to the fact that only 50 percent of the fish escaped
the commercial and Indian fishery and got past Rock Island Dam, while in 1946,
1947, and 1948 the percentages were 73, 67, and 76, respectively. Of the fish
which did pass Rock-Island Dam only relatively few could be accounted for on spawn-
ing grounds. Less than 40 percent of the 18,682 fish passing Rock Island Dam in
1949 could be accounted for either at the hatcheries or on the spawning ground,
after allowances had been made for progressive spawning. No satisfactory explana—
tion is available of the cause of this situation.
During the blueback salmon spawning surveys in the Osoyoos Lake region, the
Service learned that the Canadians are contemplating an elaborate flood control
program in the Okanogan River system. The proposed project would, among other
things, involve widening and straightening the Okanogan River in the 20 miles now
utilized for spawning purposes by bluebacks., Eleven weirs would be placed across
the river in this region in connection with the project. This project could have
a very serious affect on production of blueback salmon in the Okanogan River and
will require careful consideration by West Coast fishery interests. The Service
has furnished the Washington State Department of Fisheries with the data obtained
in the studies of this region.
36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No.3
For analysis of 1947 and 1948 fyke net data, a system of linkage of depth
catches to surface catches to compensate for varying abundance was used. Pre—
liminary analysis demonstrates that downstream migrating chinook fingerlings may
be found in quantities at depths of 45 and 55 feet as great as or greater than
those at the surface. Some evidence, though not clear-cut, shows that yearling
chinooks (fish in their second. year) are more abundant in surface water than at
greater depths.
FAO Committee on Commodity Problems Holds Organization Meeting
The 14-nation FAO Committee on Commodity Problems, established by the Fifth
Session of the FAO Conference, held its first meeting in Washington on January
12 and 13.
The Committee devoted its time to questions of organization and methods to
be used in its work. At this first meeting, it elected N. G. Abhyankar of India
as Chairman and Dr. G. S. H. Barton of Canada as Vice-Chairman.
The following countries are members of the Committee:
Australia Egypt Netherlands United States of America
Brazil France Pakistan Uruguay
Canada India Poland
Cuba Indonesia United Kingdom
The Committee on Commodity Problems is an advisory body which will direct
its attention to commodity surplus problems caused by current difficulties in
international finance (See Commercial Fisheries Review, December 1949, pe. 23).
The Committee will meet again in Washington at the call of the Chairman.
WA 2
Gulf Fishery Investigations
Pascagoula, Mississippi, has been chosen as headquarters for the Service's
Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program. The port will also be the base for the 100-foot
troller Oregon.
The Oregon, after a 27-day voyage fran Seattle, Washington, arrived at Pasca—
goula, Mississippi, on January 5. After repair and conversion, the vessel will
start its exploratory work. Congress made available a sum of $83,000 for the
ship's overhaul and subsequent operations. After conversion has been completed,
exploratory fishing work will be undertaken in the Gulf of Mexico and, at present,
it is expected that about three months' fishing can be conducted before the end
of the fiscal year (June 30, 1950).
Exploration and development of the potential fishery resources in the Gulf
of Mexico, especially those existing in offshore waters, are the main objectives
of the program. Exploratory work is the best possible means of maintaining the
fishing industry of the Gulf of Mexico on a sound basis. The present fishing
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37
fleet in that area is now expanded to the point where vessel operations are be-
coming unprofitable, and the strain of the intense fishing effort is noticeable
in the diminished size of the catches taken in the presently exploited fisheries.
Diversion of fishing effort resulting from the development of new fisheries
and the location of new grounds will materially aid in relieving the stress on
the known fish populations, and in providing a new source of supply for those
vessels now unable to operate profitably.
There is reason to expect that the operations will reveal the location of
substantial new deep-water shrimp grounds. Various species of tuna have been
reported, but no specific information is available on their abundance and avail-—
ability on a commercial scale. Menhaden may be found in areas other than those
now fished. The further development of the red snapper, Spanish mackerel, flat
fish, and king mackerel fisheries also hold promise. The potential fishery re-
sources of the Gulf are unknown.
The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission has appointed a committee to
make suggestions concerning the exploratory work. The Fish and Wildlife Service
will also consult the fishing industry in an effort to maintain a balance in the
operations and fairly represent all interests.
The Oregon is one of four vessels originally constructed by the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation for the Pacific Exploration Company, and it was subsequently
turned over to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Trends, 1949
Generally, the commercial fisheries of the Gulf States have experienced a
good year, according to a report from the Service's Fishery Marketing Specialist
surveying the fisheries of those States.
Menhaden Fishery: This industry continued to show a steady growth in the
Gulf area. A new menhaden plant was built at Cameron, Louisiana, and began op-—
erations in midseason. At the end of 1949, there were 7 plants in operation in
the Gulf and 2 more are scheduled to be completed in time for operation in 1950.
A third plant at Port Arthur, Texas, is contemplated and may be built in time
for the opening of the season.
In general, most of the menhaden operators felt they had expended a little
more effort to get the same number of fish taken in 1948.
With narrowing margins of profit, resulting from the depressed fats and oils
market, more attention was directed toward utilization of stickwater. Further
expansion of the stickwater recovery probably will take place in 1950.
Shrimp Fishery: Production of shrimp during 1949 was probably the highest
Since 1945, but it is not known yet whether or not the catch reached that year's
total. Alabama is believed to be the only State showing a catch below 1948. Ala-—
bama reported shrimp scarce, with most of the catches made up of small-sized shrimp.
38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
During 1949, the most important development in the shrimp fishery was in-
creased production of grooved (brown) shrimp. Fishermen have been bringing in
grooved shrimp in small quantities for many years. However, the production of
this variety during 1948 increased, and in April 1949, large quantities were landed.
Craft out of Brownsville, Texas, shrimping 30 miles or more south of that city,
in depths of 18 to 27 fathoms, began taking considerable quantities of grooved
shrimp.
The development of the grooved shrimp fishery seems to have been the result
of two main trends:
1, Increased construction of more modern, larger
trawlers capable of remaining at sea longer.
2, Seeking of new shrimp grounds because the catch
per boat on the old beds has declined.
>
”
of
SORTING SHRIMP ABOARD A SOUTHERN SHRIMPING VESSEL.
Elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, the grooved shrimp was taken with varying
degrees of success. Mississippi reported that a substantial part of its 1949
summer catch was grooved shrimp.
Development of a peeling and heading machine for raw shrimp indicated that
mechanization continued in the shrimp industry during the year.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39
Oyster Fishery: Fresh Gulf oysters continue to have difficulty in competing
with Eastern stock. Shucking houses, therefore, operated on a limited basis during
1949. Alabama, which has experienced a very good season, had difficulty meeting
the East Coast competition even with fresh, high quality oysters.
Spy
Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council Accepted by Korea and Indonesia
The Governments of the Republic of Korea and the United States of Indonesia
have accepted the Agreement reached at Baguio, Republic of the Philippines, February
28, 1948, for the formation of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council. Notification
was received by the Food and Agriculture Organization on January 19 and 31, re-
spectively.
To date the following Member Governments have accepted the above Agreement:
Australia France Netherlands United Kingdom
Burma India Pakistan United States of America
Ceylon Indonesia Philippines
China Korea Thailand
The next meeting of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council is scheduled for April
in Australia.
Michigan's Commercial Fisheries Production, 1949
Commercial fisheries production from the Michigan waters of the Great Lakes
dropped from an above-normal 30,000,000 pounds in 1948 to a slightly below-average
24,964,000 pounds in 1949, according to preliminary figures released by the Fish
Division of Michigan's Conservation Department. A 26,000,000-pound-year is con-
sidered near average. The value of the 1949 catch was around $5,100,000.
More chubs, yellow pike, and smelt, but a smaller amount of all other species
were produced.
The biggest decline was in whitefish--production by Lake Huron fishermen
alone was about 2,400,000 pounds less. Whitefish landings in 1949 (mainly from
Lake Michigan) were 3,875,000 as compared with 7,721,000 pounds in 1948.
Herring again led all species, but 1949 landings of 8,388,000 pounds were
somewhat lower than 1948 (9,038,000 pounds). The largest catch (4,052,000 pounds)
was in Lake Superior.
Over 2,500,000 pounds of chubs, mostly from Lake Michigan, were netted as
against 2,257,000 pounds in 1948. The increase was attributed to a concentration
on chub fishing, due to the scarcity of lake trout.
Increased fishing pressure may have been responsible for a smaller compar—
ative drop in the take of lake trout in Lake Superior—2,129,000 pounds taken last
year contrasted to 2,161,000 pounds in 1948. With 220,000 pounds from Lake Mich—
igan and 1,000 from Lake Huron, Michigan's Great Lakes totalwas down from 2,754,000
40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
pounds in 1948 to 2,350,000 pounds in 1949. The sea lamprey is blamed for the
continued smaller take of at least the lake trout. Still this species accounted
for the fourth largest take.
Michigan's commercial fishermen reported 2,013,000 pounds of white suckers and
mullets, 500,000 pounds less than in 1948.
Yellow pike increased from 1,229,000 pounds in 1948 to 1,250,000 pounds in
1949. Lake Michigan's take, (primarily Green Bay) shot up from 599,000 pounds
in 1948 to 1,045,000 pounds in 1949.
Fishermen also recorded better catches of smelt—-1,059,000 pounds (practi-
cally all from Lake Michigan), compared to 627,000 pounds in 1948.
Carp production dropped more than 1,000,000 pounds--982,000 pounds last year
in- comparison to 2,055,000 in 1948.
National Fisheries Trends for 1949 and Outlook for I950/
A moderate decline in business activity and a consequent slight weakening
in consumer demand for fishery products is forecast for 1950. However, many fish—
ery products are in a favorable domestic market situation for the first quarter
of 1950.
PRODUCTION: The first quarter of the year is a period of generally low pro-
duction in the fisheries of the country, but as spring approaches, catches in-
crease.
Commercial production of fishery products in 1949 was slightly higher than
the previous year. Landings in the New England ports, a very important wholesale
distribution area for fresh and frozen fish in the United States, were smaller
than in 1948.
STOCKS: Cold-storage stocks of frozen fish on January 1 appear to be suf—
ficient for domestic needs until early spring when the usual seasonal expansion
of commercial fishing operations will take place.
Commercial freezing of fishery products in continental United States for
human consumption was about 5 percent greater than the 241 million pounds frozen
in 1948. However, domestic cold storage stocks of fish for food use at the end
of 1949 were slightly lower than a year earlier.
Stocks of the popular species of canned fish in the hands of packers and
their selling agents at the beginning of 1950 were somewhat higher than a year
earlier, and are expected to be large enough to meet the anticipated domestic
and foreign demand for canned fish at prices somewhat below the previous year
until the 1950 pack begins to move to market in large volume late next summer,
The 1949 pack of canned fishery products was slightly higher than that of the
recedin ar. Production of canned salmon (especially pink salmon) and pilchards
1] Based mainly on a report issued early in February by the Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, Department of Agriculture, and prepared in cooperation with the Fish
and Wildlife Service, ‘
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW AL
was larger than last year, while the pack of tuna was not much different from
the record output of 1948. Mackerel and Maine sardine packs in 1949 did not differ
much from those of a year earlier.
CONSUMPTION: Civilian per capita consumption of fishery products in 1950
probably will continue at about the rate of the past two years. Retail prices
are expected to average lower than in 1949.
Per capita consumption of fishery products by United States civilians in
1949 did not differ much from the preceding year. Demand for fresh and frozen
fish was relatively stable throughout most of the year.
Military acquisitions of fishery products were less in 1949 than in the pre-
ceding year. Procurement of frozen fish was more than 5 percent above the 16.5
million pounds bought in 1948, but not as much canned fish was bought.
FOREIGN TRADE: Prospects for international trade in edible fishery products
are not considered favorable. Foreign trade of the United States in fishery prod-
ucts in 1950 may be slightly different from the previous year's pattern. Exports,
mainly of canned fish, probably will remain low relative to the levels reached
during the immediate postwar period. Imports of frozen fish fillets and canned
fish are expected to be somewhat larger than in 1949.
Imports of edible fishery products for 1949 (464,993,798 pounds, valued at
111,714,320) were slightly smaller than for 1948. Receipts of fresh, frozen,
and canned fish from foreign countries were’ less than in 1948, but those of cured
fish were greater.
Exports of fishery products for human consumption in 1949 (149,670,640 pounds ,
valued at $30,415,657) were almost 50 percent greater than in 1948, with increases
reported for fresh and frozen fish, canned, and cured products.
——
Northwest Pacific Exploratory Program
SHAKEDOWN CRUISE SCHEDULED FOR "JOHN N. COBB:" The John N. Cobb, exploratory
fishing vessel of the Service's North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program, left
Seattle, Washington, on March 19 for a shakedown cruise in the waters of South—
eastern Alaska. The cruise will last approximately four weeks.
In addition to thoroughly testing the general vessel equipment and scientific
and navigational instruments, exploratory work will be carried on in the inland
waters of Southeastern Alaska in an attempt to locate concentrations of shrimp
in the hope of establishing an off-season fishery in Alaska waters.
If quantities of large shrimp can be found in the deep-water channels near
Ketchikan, an additional source of income will be opened to small—boat operators
in Southeastern Alaska after the salmon season closes. As the channels are rocky
and trawls cannot be used successfully, the Service. hopes to devise and test other
methods of fishing for shrimp
The John N. Cobb will return to Seattle before June 1 for a checkup. The
vessel will sail in early June to the seamount area, approximately 500 miles due
42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIZS REVID Vol. 12, No. 3
west of the Columbia River and wait there for the first albacore tuna of the sea—
son to arrive. Then it will proceed to Dellwood Hills (an undersea plateau) and
to other seamounts off Southeastern Alaska to trace the tuna's migration and de—
termine, patterns of abundance. This exploratory work may help to establish an
important tuna fishery for Alaska.
While. searching for tuna, the vessel will broadcast information to the fishing
fleets, and render incidental services, such as, giving bearings and weather re—
ports. These services will follow the pattern set by the US FWS Oregon while ex-
ploring for tuna last fall.
Commissioning of the new exploratory fishing vessel took place on February
18 in Seattle, Washington, with more than 500 people attending the ceremonies.
¥
Pacific Coast Purse-Seining Methods Tried in East Coast Menhaden F ishery
In an effort to cut the production costs of the raw product going into fish
meal and oil, Pacific Coast methods of purse seining were tried by menhaden op—
erators in the North Carolina area during January this year.
Since difficulty was being experienced by the operators, they asked the Fish
and Wildlife Service for assistance. Two experienced West Coast fishermen were
detailed by the Service's Branch of Commercial Fisheries to Morehead City, North
Carolina, from aboard the vessel Oregon, now at Pascagoula, Mississippi. These
fishermen assisted in conducting experimental menhaden fishing with the Pacific
Coast purse seine.
The Air Hawk, the vessel used in the project, returned to Morehead City to
have certain necessary alterations made in the West Coast purse seine which it
was using without any success.
The purse seine was 250 fathoms long (hung, before shrinkage), 15 fathoms
deep, with a stretched mesh of 2-1/4 inches. Weight of twine in the seine at
the bottom was 9-thread, graduated to 12-thread at the top, and the bunt was 15-
thread. Some 1,100 pounds of lead was placed along the lead line. The number
of rings was increased to 160. All mid-seine plastic floats were removed and
the breast was shortened. A 3-3/4-inch purse line and 8 one-inch sheaves were
installed to facilitate handling the net. In addition, more corks were placed
on the cork line and the after-end of the seine was tapered. The gear at pre-
sent has fine web to the lead line, but it was suggested that when time permitted,
the seine should have approximately 15 meshes of largemesh netting (5—inch mesh) on
the bottom to prevent the seine from rolling up.
On January 16, the gear was in operating condition, but the weather was too
rough to permit its use. Operation of the net was again tried on January 20, but
it was still too rough to permit fishing. A haul was made in shallow water on
January 21, and, although some roll-upwas experienced, the operation was straight—
ened out to permit a complete set. The following day, the weather improved and
an extensive search was made for fish from Cape Hatteras south to Charleston,
but none were found except a few schools of very small size. Since these small—
sized fish would gill in the net and would have afterwards required a tedious clean—
ing of the net, no attempt was made to make a set. A haul was made on January 23
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERI“HS REVIEW 43
in the late afternoon. The net was set without difficulty and without delay,
but this was a dry run.
The exploratory operation was concluded on January 24 and the Service's spe-
cialists returned to the Oregon at Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission Discusses Salmon-Marking Program’
A large-scale salmon-marking program along the entire Pacific Coast was the
main subject for discussion at the meeting of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commis—
sion held at Portland, Oregon, on December 12, 1949.
The subcommittee dealing with salmon and trout marking reported that it fa-
vored a large-scale salmon-marking program along the Pacific Coast; and that if
adequate information concerning salmon migrations is to be obtained, at least
2,000,000 chinook salmon and 800,000 silver salmon should be marked.
California, Oregon, and Washington indicated their plans for an all-out ef-
fort both in marking and recovering the marked fish during the first year of oper-
ation of this program.
In regard to chinook salmon, the State of Washington proposes to mark 600,000
fish in Puget Sound and 200,000 in the Columbia River, using four sets of marks.
Oregon will mark 200,000 in the Columbia River and 400,000 in the coastal streams,
using three marks. California plans to mark 200,000 chinook salmon from the wa-—
ters of northern California and 400,000 from the Central Valley, using three sets
of marks. No chinook salmon-marking program is planned by Canada or Alaska at
this time.
With reference to silver salmon, the State of Washington proposes to mark
200,000 fish in Puget Sound and 100,000 in other streams, using three marks; Ore—
gon will mark 200,000 in the Columbia River and 200,000 -along the coast, using
4, marks; California will mark only 100,000 in coastal streams, using one mark.
In conjunction with these studies, the salmon subcommittee recommended the
establishment of a-library of salmon scales that would be available to all con-
cerned through the Commission's Research Coordinator office.
All agencies interested in fish marking are to be invited by the Commission
to an annual meeting to discuss suggestions concerning salmon and trout marking.
Since the marking program originated after the budget was drawn up, little
or no funds are included in the Commission's budget for a marking program. The
Commission arrived at no definite solution of the budgetary problem presented by
this marking program.
The Commission also recommended that the Tri-State Committee should endeavor
to organize industry and fight as a unit to protect salmon throughout the entire
Pacific Coast. In the discussion which preceded this motion, it was indicated
that the Commission is not opposed to dams in general but is opposed to the con-
struction of any dams which will be in direct conflict with salmon migrations in
Pacific Coast streams.
1JAlso see Commercial Fisheries Review, December WSs Do Zils
Ak COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
In addition, at this meeting a Research Coordinator was appointed and it
waS announced that a headquarter's office for the Commission had been established
in Portland.
Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations
"HUGH M. SMITH" FINDS TUNA (Cruise No. 2): The Service's research vessel
Hugh M. . Smith left Pearl Harbor on n January 16 on its second cruise, according
to the Director of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations at Honolulu. The
vessel returned to its base on March 2, after a 4-day voyage through the waters
lying west and south of the Hawaiian Tslands. The vessel traveled from Honolulu
to French Frigate Shoals, south to the Phoenix Islands, east to the Line Islands,
and then back to Honolulu.
The primary mission of the voyage was to gather data concerning the ocean—
ography of the Pacific Ocean between the Hawaiian Islands and the Equator. At
each of the 50 stations occupied for this purpose and spaced along the route men—
tioned, water temperatures and samples of water were taken at various levels from
the surface to a depth of approximately 4,500 feet. Although stormy weather was
encountered, the ship completed this portion of the mission successfully.
The temperature and chemistry of the water is known to exert a tremendous
influence upon the growth and behavior of fish. The migrations of tunas and,
therefore, their availability to the fishermen, depend strongly upon water tem-—
perature. In order to predict with any success the time and place of the occur-
rence of tunas, it will be essential to first acquire a detailed knowledge of the
oceanography of the region. The amount of food available for the tunas is di-
rectly linked with the composition of the water. Sea water, which is rich in
nutrient salts, can be expected to produce an abundance of food organisms. More-—
over, there is some reason to believe that the survival of young tunas, and there—
fore, the abundance of marketabletunas, may be closely connected with the richness
of the water.
Collection of samples of plankton and young fish at each hydrographic station
was the secondary object of the cruise. The plankton (consisting of fish eggs,
fish larvae, and other very small animals) were taken in the search for tuna-
spawning grounds and to get an estimate of the quantity of marine life in these
sections of the Pacific Ocean. It is believed that the young of the tunas may
be considerably more widespread in distribution than is known at the present time.
A brief reconnaissance was made of tuna resources in the Phoenix Islands.
Although fishing was not a primary objective of the cruise, two days were spent
at Canton Island in the Phoenix Group for a preliminary survey of the tuna and
bait-fish resources. On the day fishing operations for bait were conducted, 85
scoops (about 650 pounds) of small fish suitable for tuna bait were caught. Part
of this bait was used in an attempt to fish schools of tuna near the Island. A
school of skipjack (aku) was raised, but were too wild to be caught successfully.
Shortly thereafter, a school of large yellowfin tuna (ahi) rose to the bait. In
neither case was any large quantity of tuna caught. It is also of interest to
note that a large school of skipjack was encountered in the open ocean--1,100
miles southwest of Honolulu. These data will be of use in clarifying the seasonal
changes which occur in the distribution of tunas.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45
An observer from the U. S. Weather Bureau was taken aboard at Canton Island,
and the expedition obtained both meterorological and hydrographic data near the
Equator.
"HENRY O'MALLEY" EXPLORES FOR BAIT: The exploratory fishing vessel Henry
at French Frigate Shoals. The vessel sailed on its second cruise on January 21
and was not scheduled to return until March 21. However, main-engine failure
forced the vessel to return to port for repairs. This cruise was planned to ex-
tend down through the various islands of the Line Island group for tuna fishing
and additional prospecting for bait.
Severe weather conditions at French Frigate Shoals allowed only two days of
baiting operations, Strong winds up to 40 knots, and heavy seas, caused severe
tide rips making operations most difficult. The crew managed to capture 14 buckets
of bait which lived quite well in the bait tanks. A portion of this bait is being
used for physiological research by a graduate student at the University of Hawaii.
THE "JOHN R. MANNING" SAILS: The motor vessel, US FWS John R, Manning, sailed
from Seattle on February 20 via San Pedro for Honolulu where it will undertake
exploration for tuna together with the other two vessels of the Investigations—
Hugh M. Smith and Henry O'Malley.
The John R. Manning, which is of wooden construction, is 86' 6" in length,
22! 6" in breadth, and 12' 8" in depth. The vessel, whose cruising speed is 9
knots, is equipped withtwo Diesel generators for auxiliary power, and has a cruising
range of 8,000 miles which is in excess of the typical West Coast purse seiner.
A large cruising range is necessary because of the vast authorized area of op-
erations—-13,000,000 square miles with very few refueling points. The vessel
is equipped with such modern navigational equipment as Loran, radio direction
finder, 250-watt radio telephone and telegraph transmitter, and an automatic steer-
ing pilot.
This vessel will be primarily concerned with experimental purse-seine fishing
for tuna on a commercial scale in the tropical and subtropical seas between Hawaii
and the Palaus. Not only are the features of a West Coast purse seiner included
in the vessel, but experimental features, such as, live—bait tanks and numerous
gurdies for deep trolling and long-line fishing also have been installed.
TUNA FISHERY IN HAWAII: After a lull in activity during the New Year holi-
days, the Hawaiian flag-line fleet returned to the regular pursuit of tuna, ac-
cording to a January report from the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations at
Honolulu. Big-eyed tuna (P. mebachi) was still the major species in the catch
during the month, but fishing did not seem quite as remunerative as it was in
December 1949. A few yellowfin tuna (N. macropterus) are being taken and the
catch of striped marlin has increased somewhat. During the latter part of the
month, a 962-pound black marlin (M. magara) was caught.
TAGGING TUNAS: Investigation of methods of tagging tunas has continued,
but no final decision has been reached concerning methods of release and recovery.
A number of standard units for recovery of metal particles from a production line
have been examined. It appears that such installations could be depended upon to
detect all tags at the cannery.
46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIGS REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
Puget Sound Salmon Fishery, 1949
PRODUCTION: The
largest commercial sal—
mon fishing fleet in 30
years operated in Puget
Sound during the 1949
season, according to
the Washington State
Fisheries Department.
Some 320 seiners, 641
gill netters, and 137
reef netters were en—
gaged in catching sal—
‘mon. The fleet caught
9,996,000 fish during
19h9, compared to
2,911,417 in 1948, and
0,709,867 in 1947 (see
table). The sockeye
catch jumped 50 percent
over the brood year
- _— - 1945--a fact attributed
PURSE SEINE VESSELS OFF SAN JUAN ISLAND, PUGET SOUND. to the success of the
International Pacific
Salmon Fisheries program on the Fraser River. Although the pink catch was sub-—
stantially under the 9,015,000 fish caught in 1947, the 1949 catch has been ex—
ceeded only four times since 1913. Of the other species of salmon, silver showed
the most gain, while king and chum catches were approximately equal to those of
the parent cycles.
5 94, 23! a
1/Does not include pack rom salmon imported efron Alaska ay tenedang
>
[Includes 3,536 cases from 1947 frozen chinooks; 3,007 cs. from 1947 frozen chums; 72 cs.
from 1947 frozen pinks; and 5, 795 es, from Columbia River chinooks,
B/Includes 10,235 cases custom pack and reprocessed,
Kesey Ghamieed 66 equals 48 one-pound cans,
Prices paid by packers for salmon averaged about one-third under the previous
year. Fishermen received 20 cents a pound for sockeye, 124 cents for king and
silver, 10 cents for pink, and 8 cents for chum.
PACK: Approximately 686,000 standard cases of canned salmon were packed
during 1949 from the Puget Sound catch (see table). Valued at approximately
$13 million, the pack was the second largest since 1933. In addition, 140,000
standard cases of fish imported from Alaska and Canada were canned by Puget Sound
canneries.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47
Although Puget Sound canned salmon generally found a ready market during the
year, prices were under those of 1948.
Wholesale and Retail Prices
Average wholesale market prices of all commodities on January 10, 1950, were
O.1 percent above December 13, 1949, but 6.3 percent lower than on January 11, 1949,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor reported. Food prices,
on the other hand, declined 0.4 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively.
Wholesale canned pink salmon prices during January this year were the same
as those which prevailed in December 1949, but were still 33.3 percent below Jan—
uary 1949. Red canned salmon prices, on the other hand, rose slightly (0.1 per-
cent) above the previous month, but were 1.8 percent below the corresponding month
a year agoo
Wholesale and d_ Retail Satie
Percentage change from--
Wholesale: (1925 # 100 Jan, 10 pomensca Dec, 13,1949 Jan, 11,1949
[All commodi ties Index No, +0, -6.
do 135°9 -0.4 -6.5
Canned salmon, Seattle:
Pink, No, 1, Tall
Red, No, 1, Tall
Cod, cured, large shore,
Gloucester, Mass.
Fresh, frozen and canned
Fresh and frozen
Canned salmon:
Pink
Retail food prices declined 0.7 percent between December 15, 1949, and Jan-
uary 15, 1950, and they were 4.3 percent below January 15, 1949. However, fresh,
frozen and canned fish prices advanced 1.0 percent between December 15, 1949, and
January 15, 1950, but were still 9.0 percent below January 15, 1949. The biggest
increase occurred in fresh and frozen fish since these prices advanced 1.9 per-—
cent above December 15, 1949, but they were still 0.1 percent below a year ago.
Canned pink salmon prices on January 15, 1950, dropped 1.1 percent below a month
ago, and were 24.1 percent lower than on January 15, 1949.
48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIEW REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
Brazil
WHALING: Two land stations have been engaged in whaling operations in Brazil
for more than thirty years, according to information obtained from the Brazilian
Division of Hunting and Fishing of the Ministry of Agriculture and as reported by
a January 11 American consular dispatch from Rio de Janeiro. The larger of these
is located at Cabedelo, Estado da Paraiba do Norte. The second, is located at Im-
bituba, Estado de Santa Catarina.
The company at Cabedelo is reported to be well equipped with modern processing
machinery, including boilers and autoclaves. At present, they have only one sea—
going vessel but a new one is promised for early delivery. The concern employs
several Norwegian specialists, and catches an average of about 40 whales per year.
The 1949 catch was 32. The size of the whales caught varies from 42 to 60 feet in
length, and the distribution by sex is, roughly, 66 percent male and 34 percent
female. No information is available regarding the amount of oil produced, the
quantity and type of byproducts, or the species of whales taken.
British Guiana
STATUS OF FISHERIES: There is only one commercial fishing company operating
in British Guiana, a January 6 American consular dispatch from Georgetown reports.
This firm maintains a fleet of six schooners (sail and auxiliary) for deep-
sea fishing. Red snapper is the leading species caught. Demand exceeds supply
and there is no export. The firm has large cold storage facilities and also manu-
factures ice.
Several hundred individual fishermen are ,active in inshore waters, taking
small fish and shrimp, and a large number of farmers and others, regularly take
fresh-water shrimp in canals and creeks. The Fisheries Division of the British
Guiana Department of Agriculture is endeavoring to organize fishing on a more
regular basis and is encouraging the formation of a fishermen's cooperative for
improved equipment and methods in the fishing and for the marketing of the catch.
The Government Produce Depot has recently made a few trial shipments of lo-
cally-produced shrimp meal for stock feed to the near British West Indian islands,
and small amounts of fish glue are occasionally exported to the United Kingdom by
a local firm.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW BS)
France
FISHING FLEET: France is rebuilding its fishing fleet. During the war, the
French fishing fleet lost 60 percent of its vessels, andmost of the vessels remaining
are worn out as a result of war service, according to the January 14 issue of
The Fishing News, a British periodical. The rebuilding program provides for the
construction of 170 trawlers, including 142 motor vessels and 28 steamers. French
shipyards built or are building most of these vessels, while 76, already delivered,
were built in England, the United States, Canada, and Belgium.
All the new fishing vessels have a distinctive appearance with slightly raked
bows, cruiser-type sterns, streamlined superstructures and rather squat funnels.
All are fitted with one of three types of electrically-driven trawl winches of
French make.
Towards the end of 1949, atypical large motor trawler (Magdalena) was launched.
This was the fifth of six ordered from a shipyard at Rouen. Four had already been
delivered and the sixth will be finished in February. These trawlers are equipped
for cod fishing off Newfoundland, 241 ft. 2 in. in length, with a beam of 48 ft.
7 in., a depth of 20 ft. 8 in., and a loaded draft of 18 ft. 1 in. Capacity of
the fish hold is 2,240,000 pounds. Constructed with one continuous deck, the hull
is divided into eight watertight compartments. Most of the crew are accommodated
in the forecastle, which is 49 ft. 3 in. long and 7 ft. 7 in. high, while the bal-
ance of the crew are accommodated aft or in the bridge structure. A recreation
room for the crew and drying rooms are provided.
FRENCH TRAWLER LEAVING THE DOCK AT MARSEILLES, FRANCE.
Propelling machinery consists of a six-cylinder, four-stroke, single-acting
reversible-type engine, developing 1,100 h.p. at 170 r.p.m., giving a speed of 11
knots. Its speed can be reduced to 50 r.p.m. when handling the trawl. Auxiliary
engines are driven by current supplied by two single-acting, two-stroke oil en-
gines of 250 h.p. each, driving a 115 kw. generator for the trawl winch and a
44 kw. generator for general service. There is also a 44 kw. emergency set, driven
by a single-acting four-stroke engine. Though all auxiliary machinery is electri-
cally driven, steam is necessary for deck use,°as well as for liver processing,
domestic heating, and washing.
50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
German Federal Republic
DEVELOPMENT OF GERMAN FREE-SWIMMING TRAWL: Expenditures of DM80,000 ($24,000
at predevaluation r. rate of te of exchange) for the development and testing of a free-
swimming trawl was authorized by the committee controlling the Bremerhaven Equal—
ization Fund in the summer of 1949, according to an American consular dispatch
from Bremerhaven dated January 26. Tests onthe use of the recording-marine sounder
with this trawl will be conducted in conjunction with these experiments. It was
hoped that the combined use of the free-swimming trawl and the recording-marine
sounder would make possible the use of the oldertrawlers. in thehitherto untouched
pelagic fishery.
The use of the recording-marine sounder in the high-seas fishery is a novelty
in Germany and much attention is being given to new applications of the device.
During the 1949 German herring season, for example, a special observer from Ger-
many's National Fisheries Research Institution was stationed on board the fish-
eries protection boat Frithjof to evaluate sounder charts. Sounder technique
proved to be very useful on many fishing grounds, but was a failure off Iceland
as already-located fish schools there seemed to disappear within a few minutes.
Although the value of the recording sounder seems to be established in Ger-
many, even for ground trawling, the free-swimming trawl has yet to prove itself.
The Hamburg trawler Stralsund, typical of the 25-year-old German type, is
being used for the tests of the new technique, and made one voyage in Septem-
ber and a second at the endof November 1949. These first two trials produced little
fish as they primarily were intended to provide data on interrelationships between
weight of the net, towing-line angle, towing—line length, towing speed, engine
power, and trawl depth, which latter was measured by an electrically-controlled
pressure gauge.
The net being used in the Stralsund experiments is basically the Danish Lar—
sen net (Atom Trawl), with the addition of special otter boards so that a single
trawler, rather than two separate vessels, may pull the net. The special otter
boards, invented by the German Sueberkrueb, are hydrodynamic foils in contrast
to the plane surfaces of the usual otter boards. At the present time, the depth
of the net is determined only by the weights put on the otter boards, or after
the net is in the water, by the speed of the vessel. But if found desirable,
air tanks may be attached to the otter boards so that the trawling depth can be
set independently of the trawling speed. The fact that the free-swimming trawl
has much less drag than a trawl resting on the ocean bottom means that even the
small, older trawlers designed for ground trawling in not too deep waters have
a reserve of power when using a free-swimming trawl.
A very important explanationfor the smallness of the catch made by the Stral-
sund on its first two test voyages is that few if any schools of pelagic fish were
located by the sounder either in the North Sea or in the English Channel. Local
officials would like to have a sounder which would detect fish not only under the
vessel but also ahead or to one side of it. However, research on such projects
is prohibited for reasons of military security by the occupying powers. But the
idea of using even the present imperfect sounders with a free-swimming trawl has
not been given up, and the Stralsund will be used this year for voyages to other
fishing grounds.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51
FISHING INDUSTRY TAXES REDUCHD: A’ further reduction of taxes on the German
fishing industry took place on January 1, 1950, when the rationing tax (Lenkung-
sabgabe) on sea fish and fishery products was abolished completely. First levied
in 1936, this tax was intended to provide the Government with funds to meet the
out-of-the-pocket cost of its fish-rationing measures, a January 19 American con-
sular report from Bremerhaven reports. No part of this tax could be passed on
to the consumer. In view of the almost complete ineffectuality of the Government—
controlled distribution system in the summer and fall of 1949, these taxes were
cut 50 percent for the first time on November 1, 1949.
Abolition of the rationing tax is consistent. with the German Government's
plan not to maintain special controls on the fishing industry after March 1, 1950.
However, the Bonn Government hopes that it will be legally possible for the in-
dustry itself to achieve a so-called "market order" (Marktordnung), or a distri-
bution of fish landings between the various fishing ports which will minimize
price fluctuations. But fisheries authorities do not believe that such a distri-
bution can be achieved by allowing individual vessels complete freedom in selecting
a discharging port. However, the plan to allow the fishing industry to form a
body having widespread controls over individual firms has seemed to American offi-
cials to approach the legalization of conspiracy in restraint of trade, and con-
sequently has met with American opposition.
A further reduction of taxes imposed on the fishing industry will be made
on March 1, 1950, when the equalization-fund tax (Ausgleichsabgabe) will be abol-
ished. This tax, which is levied to further fish production, fish consumption,
and fish meal production, may be passed on to other levels of distribution. The
tax varies from approximately $0.48 to $47.60 per metric ton, depending upon the
type of fishery products and whether or not they are domestic or imported. Pro-
ceeds of the equalization-fund tax are held in separate equalization funds main—
tained in each of the major fishing ports. It is estimated that this tax brought
about $952,000 into the various funds. Although no complete report has been pub-—
lished to date of the use made of these funds, it is known that the funds have
been used primarily to subsidize the older and less economic trawlers in order
to prevent these vessels from being withdrawn completely from operation. The
Bremerhaven fund has also been used to finance fisheries research projects, three
of which are: free-swinming trawl ($19,040), electro-fishing ($14,280), and re-
frigerated hold for cutters ($5,950).
Even though the equalization-fund tax imposed by the State will be abolished
on March 1, 1950, it is expected that participants in the German fishing industry
will continue to pool funds to promote domestic fish consumption. However, the
era of subsidization of over-age and uneconomic trawlers will be over, and such
trawlers will be retired as rapidly as the large trawlers now planned, under con-
struction, or soon to be purchased, are put into operation.
NOTE; Yalues converted on the basis of the postdevaluation rate of exchange of 1 “Yestern
Deutsche mark equals 23.8 cents U. S.
TUNA CATCH, 1949: During 1949, 337,861 pounds of tuna (670 fish) were auc-—
tioned in German fishing ports for DM 258,003 (approximately {/,700 at predevalu-
ation rate of exchange). The number of tuna caught by German fishing vessels and
eaten on board is not known but may bring the total catch up to 1,000 fish, a
January 26 American consular dispatch from Bremerhaven states. This 1949 catch
is the largest landed by German vessels in many years. In 1938, 535 fish, weighing
269,738 pounds, were landed.
52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
—
a
GERMAN TRAWLER ALONGSIDE AUCTION HALL X, BREMERHAVEN, GERMANY. BASKETS AT SIDE ARE USED
TO DISCHARGE FISH AND HOLD ABOUT 50 KILOGRAMS OF FISH.
SUBSIDY FOR TRAWLEXS: A subcommittee of the German Bundestag has approved
a subsidy of DM 8,000,000 (approximately $1,904,000 at postdevaluetion rate of
exchange) for German ocean-going ships using coal, among which are many fishing
trawlers. This subsidy is intended to lower the cost of coal to German vessels
by about DM 15.00 ($3.57) per metric ton, which would reduce the cost of operating
a typical German trawler about DM 150.00 ($35.70) per day.
HHH HK
NEW FISHING NET: A fishing net, chiefly used for catching eels, has been
developed for use in rivers where traffic density had formerly prohibited the use
of nets. The net can be set either from a ship or from land and can be pulled
in and removed from the water in a few minutes, a January 20 American consular
report from Bremen states.
The new net, sponsored by the Landesfischereiverband Weser-Ems, is actually
based on a net invented shortly before the war by Hugo Koethke from Gorleben bei
Danneberg, Elbeland, and the German patent on which is held by the Netzfabrik
Kleiss, Hamburg-Altenwerder. For the first time this winter, the net is being
used in the Weser, and good results are said to have been obtained.
Mareh 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW D3
The net can be used only where the current flow, tidal or otherwise, is suf-
ficiently strong. It is in the form of a bag, with a 60-70 mm. (2.4-2.8 inches)
mesh at the mouth and 20-25 mm. (.8-1.0 inch) mesh in the cod end. Depending
upon river depth and current flow, the net opening varies between 8 x 8 meters
(26 x 26 feet) and 12 x 12 meters (39 x 39 feet). The novel part about the gear
is the steerable single otter board, weighing about 1 to 1.5 metric tons, which
keeps the mouth of the net open. In spite of its weight, the board can be pulled
in quickly either from a boat or from the shore since it is steerable.
wT
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NEW-TYPE NET FOR USE IN RIVERS WHERE TRAFFIC DENSITY HAD FORMERLY PROHIBITED THE USE OF
NETS.
sek ae ae
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OPERATION OF AMERICAN TRAWLERS IN GERMANY: All of the United States motor
very useful and profitable during the herring season, a February 6 American con—
sular dispatch from Frankfort reports. However, it must yet be proven how these
boats will stand the test in catching fresh fish on the more remote fishing grounds
and in deeper waters.
The first of the twelve United States boats to fish under German charter
was the Surf (started on August 3, 1948), and the last to be put in operation
was the Swell (started on September 7, 1949). All of these boats ceased fishing
on December 15, 1949, at the end of the herring run. Production for 93 trips
totaled 17,656,830 pounds.
In the meantime, nine of the largest boats have had liver-extraction units
installed, and eight of these are currently fishing for cod, with the remaining
four scheduled to leave some time in February.
No boats have proven unsatisfactory as yet although the three smallest may
have to be lengthened and liver-extraction units installed to be economical on
distant fishing trips.
Experience during the herring and cod fishing season may economically jus-
tify the use of these vessels as part of the German fishing fleet. However, in
view of present opportunities and the desirability of increasing imports of fish
54 COMMERCIAL FISHERISS REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
and herring from trade-agreement countries, and the building, leasing, or pur-
chasing of additional trawlers from agreement sources, it is believed that there
is no objection to returning any or all of these vessels to the United States.
Lf
Greenland
Company. This statement was according to newspaper reports quoted in the Jan-
uary 26 Fiskets Gang, a Norwegian periodical. It was pointed out that a freezer—
equipped vessel is necessary to operate in cooperation with the shore freezers.
Quick-frozen Greenland cod fillets were reported to have had an excellent recep—
tion in France. It was also suggested that a fish meal plant be constructed so
that Denmark could become self-sufficient with respect to fish meal.
In addition, it was recommended that the large resources of Greenland shrimp
be utilized. New York buyers were reported to be willing to take as much as could
be delivered at the quoted price of 394 cents per pound.
If the necessary capital investment were made, it is believed that in 10
years the value of the Greenland fisheries would reach approximately $14,500,000
annually.
catmay tay an Gey
SHRIMP FISHERY: At present there is some commercial shrimp fishing in the
fjords near Holsteinborg from the month of May until the end of September each
year, states an American consular report dated January 21 from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Provisional investigations in the years 1946-49 established that there are
large quantities of shrimp in the various fjords in the district of Julianehaab,
as well as in Disco Bay in northern Greenland. Three large shrimp areas have been
found in Disco Bay--one at the west side and two at the east side. The western
area is about 25 miles in length and 4-6 miles in breadth, and each of the two
eastern areas is 10 miles in length and 5-6 miles in breadth.
Commercial shrimp fishing near Holsteinsborg has shown that the yield per
haul has varied from one year to another and from one period in the season to
another. In this area, since the war, the shrimp stock has diminished consider-
ably and smaller-sized shrimp are caught.
In the summer of 1949, no shrimp were found in the fjords near Holsteinsborg
(attributed to the icy water encountered near the bottom), therefore, shrimp fish-
ing has been carried on in the southeastern part of Disco Bay off Christianshaab,
and the catch transported to the factory near Holsteinsborg for processing. Ex-
perimental trawlings in the areas of Disco Bay have established that the average
catch per hour is 176-275 pounds, using an ordinary shrimp trawl.
The botten of the shrimp grounds consists of clay without stones and the
depth varies from 191 to 219 fathoms. Since the shrimp spawn about the middle
of August, they are taken before as well as after spawning.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55
The average age of the shrimp varies from 3-5 years. From the experimental
trawlings conducted in Disco Bay, it appears that generally the shrimp taken near
the coast are younger and smaller than those taken farther offshore. The Green-
land shrimp's biology is similar to those taken near Spitsbergen—during the first
two years of itslife the shrimp is not ripe; during the next two years, the shrimp
acts like a ripe male and then changes its sex. The Greenland shrimp is similar
to the northern shrimp found along the North American coast from Cape Cod to Nova
Scotia.
Iceland
TRAWLERS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH REDUCTION EQUIPMENT: Ten new trawlers being
Gang. It is possible that similar equipment will be installed in the trawlers
already delivered. The reduction equipment will handle 25 to 30 metric tons of
raw material each 24 hours, producing 6 to 7 tons of meal. Due to the limited
space available on the trawlers, installation presents certain problems.
arn
India
MARINE INVERTEBRATE FAUNA SURVEY: A three-man expedition will survey the
waters of the Indian Ocean bordering peninsular India for marine invertebrate
fauna (giant clams, mollusca, crustaceans, etc.), according to a January 30 Amer—
ican consular repert, which quotes the January 2 Bombay Times of India.
Organized by the Bombay Natural History Society, the expedition is the first
of its kind in India. It will leave Bombay for Madras in mid-February to survey
the Krusadai Islands in the Gulf of Mannar, the shark beds off Rameshwaram coast,
and the pearl fisheries of Tuticorin. An artist is accompanying the expedition
to make color sketches of the marine fauna.
\ ef
Japan
FISHERIES LAW ENACTED: The Fisheries Law was enacted by the Diet November
29, 1949, the Natural Resources Section of SCAP reports in its Weekly Summary of
December 3, 1949. The purpose of this law is to democratize Japanese fisheries,
giving the working fisherman control over the source of his means of livelihood by
placing the fishing rights in his hands. The law becanes effective on the date of
its promulgation.
The new legislation eliminates absentee ownership of fisheries rights and ex-
cessive concentration of ownership. Bureaucratic government control is minimized.
This law presents solutions for fisheries rights problems, many of which at
present are peculiar to Japan. It adapts democratic procedures to the unique
fisheries rights system which evolved in Japan as a result of the crowded con-
56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
ditions of coastal waters and the intensive search for food. As the world's popu-
lation increases and its food supply decreases, similar problems can be expected
to develop in other countries. Japan's experience with the fisheries rights pro-
gram will serve as a guideto other nations in meeting such problems in the future.
REVIEW OF FISHERIES DURING 1949: A review of the Japanese fisheries during
mary.
Fish production in 1949 reached about 7,000,000,000 pounds compared to less
than 6,000,000,000 in 1948. This was made possible by the hard work of the Jap-—
anese fishermen and the increased quantities of cotton and manila fiber, fuel oil,
and other supplies for Japanese fisheries which were paid for by the American
people and turned over to the Japanese Government by SCAP.
The production of the Antarctic whaling fleets, which returned to Japan in
April, totaled 57,350 metric tons of whale products and was the greatest since
the surrender. Efficiency of operations, as shown by the quantity of oil and meat
produced per whale, and the excellent record in observing international conven—
tions, are the best performances ever recorded by Japanese whalers in the Ant—
arctic.
On September 21, 1949, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers extended
the authorized fishing area eastward to the 180th meridian, thus opening a large
area to fishing operations. This action was in recognition of the good work of
the Japanese Government and members of the fishing industry in controlling vio-
lations of the fishing area and establishing a program for correcting over—exploi-
tation, particularly in the East China Sea.
Notable progress was made in the democratization of fisheries with the elim-—
ination of the old control associations and the establishment of democratic co-
operatives. Passage on November 29 of the Fishing Rights Bill also contributed
to democratization.
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT
Liberia
STATUS OF FISHERIES: Fishing in Liberia is still conducted on a primitive
basis, states a January 26 American consular dispatch from Monrovia. Equipment
consists of native-made canoes, home-made fishing nets, and raphia fishing lines.
The fishing hooks are imported.
Each fishing canoe carries a complement of from two to four Kru or Fanti
fishermen, depending on the size of the canoe. Fishing is done daily during the
season (approximately 6 months) within a 30-mile belt off the coast. Seldom is
the daily catch more than the local market can consume immediately. Thus, very
little surplus is accumulated for the months when fishing cannot be carried on.
At present, the small surplus occasionally occurring is either sun-dried or smoked
over a crude Fanti oven and sold during the non-fishing season at exhorbitant
prices. The population during the non-fishing months must depend on imported
fish (smoked and dried fish), coming principally fromNorway and the United States.
Mareh 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES RiVIEW Da
There would seem to be a good opportunity for the establishment of a modern
fishing operation in Liberia. A new cold storage plant in Monrovia, the capital
city, can now supply ice to fishing boats, and also take the surplus catch for
freezing.
It is estimated that there are 525 fishing canoes operating along the Libe-
rian Coast with a complement of 1,200 fishermen, consisting mostly of members of
the Fanti and Kru tribes. ‘the Fantis immigrate into Liberia from the Gold Coast
during the fishing season, returning to their native country at the end of the
season. The annual catch will approximate a few hundred metric tons of the fol-
lowing varieties: bonies, barracuda, gruppa, cavalla, mullet, oysters, snapper,
cassava, shark, cat, mackerel, sword, butternose, salmon, crawfish, salt-water
turtle, shrimp, crabs, spiny lobster, clams, pike, and eel. All of the above are
caught in sizable quantities and consumed locally.
No scientific study has yet been made of the potential fishery along the
Liberian Coast. If properly explored, an important source of protein foodmight
be developed.
Mexico
APPROVES INTERNATIONAL FISHERY AGKHEMENT: The Mexican Government's approval
of the Convention for the #stablishment of an International Commission for the
Scientific Investigation of Tuna, signed at Mexico City on January 25, 1949, by
plenipotentiaries of the United States of America and the United Mexican States,
was published in the Diario Oficial of February 16, 1950, according to a Febru-
ary 17 report from the American Embassy at Mexico City. The Decree approving the
Convention was actually issued on December 30, 1949.
This Convention was ratified by President Truman on September 1, 1949, after
the Senate on August 17 had previously unanimously advised and consented to the
ratification of this fishery agreement.
Norway
EXPERINENTS WITH ARTIFICIAL DRYING OF FISH: Norwegian producers of salted
report from the Norwegian Information Service states.
Several such plants are already in operation and the Kristiansund Industrial
Laboratory is at present constructing an experimental plant for testing the effect
of variations in the atmosphere, humidity and temperature in the drying process.
The object is to ascertain if a better quality can be obtained through artificial
drying, as drying plants offer a much larger capacity than the old method.
LEATH@R FROM FISH SKIN: Tanned fish skin is reported to make an excellent
leather for brief cases and bookbindings. The Norwegian Government's fish fillet-
ing plant in northern Norway is now disposing of its fish skins, mostly cod, to
58 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
a tanning plant nearby. The plant can turn out about one metric ton of fish skins
a day.
Modern technical methods make it possible for the Norwegian fishing industry
to make use of every particle of the fish in one way or another. Whatever fish
is not consumed either in fresh, frozen, salted or canned form can be converted
into meal for animal fodder and into oil for margarine and cosmetics. Fish waste
is also being processed into plastic, while the scales on the herring are being
used to make artificial pearls.
HERRING FACTORY SHIP: Norway's first floating herring factory ship, (Clupea)
officially went into production the early part of February, according to a Feb-—
ruary 11 report.
The 6,000-metric-ton vessel has a production capacity of up to 5,000 barrels
a day, can receive 15,000 barrels of herring under deck and 5,000 barrels above
deck (see Commercial Fisheries Review, January 1950, p. 49).
When in full operation, the ship will employ 100 men, of whom 75 can be ac—
commodated on board. Powered by two steam engines of 2,600 h.p. each, the ship
is capable of a speed of 16 knots.
PLASTIC FROM FISH WASTE :2/ Production of plastic moulding powders from fish
waste has been known to be theoretically possible for some time, but the practical
realization of the idea was only recently attempted in Norway, according to a
February 25 report.
By submitting fish protein to a special process, a Norwegian firm has now
succeeded in producing a plastic moulding powder which is distinguished by mould-
ing properties fully equal to those possessed by other moulding powders now on the
market. It is a well-established fact that moulding compounds containing protein
give the moulded articles an exceptionally fine finish and a very attractive appear-
ance, in addition to the usual properties found in articles made from other mould-
ing compounds. The powder can be made in opaque and transparent colors,
The Norwegianfirmat Bergen has been able to install the necessary machinery.
Since high quality raw material in desired quantities is easily obtainable at a
low cost, the firm is able to offer its moulding powder at prices comparable with
those demanded for the cheaper kinds of moulding material now on the market.
1/See Commercial Fisheries Review, December 194°, p. 47.
* KK K
Norwegian Export to Poland
Quantity
5,000
NORWEGLIAN-POLISH TRADE AGREEMENT:
A protocol containing an agreement for
trade (which included fishery products)
between Norway and Poland during 1950
Herring:
See frozen .......... A beseess was concluded at Oslo on December 21,
Salted, foolend ©o.22.s00202| 31000 1949. The accompanying Payments Agrse-
ment signed at the same time states
that settlement of payments of the
two countries is to be made in Nor-
wegian kroner. These agreements will
expire December 31, 1950, unless pre-
viously cancelled by either party,
according to a January 26 American
consular report from Oslo.
Endustrialie. jmacencs seen
efined fish and herring oil
Hardened whale oil ..
BS terecese
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59)
Included among the Norwegian exports to Poland are the fishery products given
in the table.
In addition, Norway is scheduled to ship to Poland $42,000 worth of fish
hooks.
Poland's contemplated exports do not include any fishery products.
TRAWLING: The Norwegian Government not only intends to liberalize regulations
on trawling, but will also establish and finance a company to operate fish-freez-
ing plants in northern Norway, states a February 2 American consular dispatch.
This was brought out in the King's "Speech from the Throne" outlining the Govern—
ment's economic policy for 1950-51 on the occasion of the opening of the 94th
Storting on January 18. Extensive use of trawlers by Norway will represent a
radical departure for Norway's fishing industry.
EXPORTS OF FROZEN FILLETS: Exports = === =
of frozen fillets to the United States
this year will be more than double the
amount shipped during 1949 (over 500
metric tons). Shipments of frozen fillets
began in May 1949 when a test shipment of
150 metric tons was made to the United
States. Italy was the largest purchaser
of Norwegian frozen fillets during 1949
(5,000 metric tons), followed by Israel
(2,500 tons) .
HERRING FISHERY: As aresult of in-
creased demand and prices for herring
meal, the production of salted herring
has become relatively less profitable.
Only 250,000 barrels of large herring ONE-POUND PACKAGE OF NORWEGIAN FROZEN
and- probably not more than 200,000 barrels [ISH FILLETS DESTINED FOR THE Swiss
OR FRENCH MARKET.
of spring herring willbe salted this year, adie ige #
states the Norwegian Directory of Fish-
eries. This will be less than half the quantity salted from last year's catche
The Director of a herring oil factory at Bergen states that the potentialities
of the herring oil and meal industry should be emphasized. The export price of
Norwegian herring meal has increased from 700 kroner to 900 kroner per metric
ton ($140 to $180 per metric ton at predevaluation rate of exchange). He also
indicated that research should be continued on methods of fully recovering the
available animal protein factor from herring.
STOCKFISH: The Stockfish Exporters' Association hope to meet 1950 export
demand and have expanded production facilities accordingly. However, production
is dependent on the Lofoten cod catch which scientists predict will not be large
this year.
EFFECTS OF DEVALUATION: A survey published by the Norwegian Association
of Canning Factories points out the effects of the devaluation of the Norwegian
krone on exports of Norwegian fish to the United States. Inability to compete
with Canadian prices, evident in the early part of 1949, is reported to have been
at least temporarily overcome though production costs have increased, especially
60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
for canning, with prices within the industry showing a tendency to rise. How-—
ever, the survey adds that even after the devaluation, American importers have
continued to buy cautiously, maintaining small inventories.
NEW RESEARCH VESSEL: A modern marine research vessel, the G. QO. Sars, was
placed into service by the Norwegian Government this month. It cost approximately
4, million kroner (approximately $560,000) and is equipped with Asdic apparatus,
supplemented by two echo sounders to be used for locating fish schools.
au
1p
Pakistan
NORWAY TO AID PAKISTAN FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT: The Pakistan Government has
asked the Norwegian Government for assistance in developing the Pakistan fisher-
ies, according to a January 28 report from the Norwegian Information Service.
Norway announced late in January that it has decided to send a biologist,
a technologist and a practical fisherman to Pakistan. The technologist would be
a chemical engineer with knowledge of freezing, and fish meal and canning pro-
cesses; the fisherman would have knowledge of all the main fishing methods.
AS
United Kingdom
BILLINGSGATE FISHERY RECEIPTS DECLINED IN 1949: Receipts of fishery products
in 1949 at the Billingsgate Market (considered the largest wholesale fish market
in the world) in London dropped to 383,988,400 pounds, compared with 427,897,400
pounds in 1948, This was a decline of 43,909,000 pounds from 1948 and 47,158,600
pounds less than in 1947, according to the January 21 issue of The Fishing News.
Average monthly receipts totaled 33,069,000 pounds in 1949 as against 35,443,400
pounds in 1948 and 35,935,000 pounds in 1947.
oe Oe
NEW ALUMINUM FISH PACKAGE DEVELOPED: Con-
siderable interest has been displayed by Great
Britain's fishery industry in the development
of a new non-returnable aluminum package for
fishery products. The new package, which has
been thoroughly tested, is a very light, pure
aluminum package. Made in various sizes, con-
sumer packages hold from 1 to 33 pounds of
fishery products, and trade packages hold 7
NEW ALUMINUM PACKAGE DEVeLopeo in. 2nd 14 pounds, according to the January 7 issue
GREAT BRITAIN SHOWING FRESH COM- of Fish Trades Gazette, an English periodical.
PACTLY-PACKED DRESSED FISH.
Cost of the new package, it is claimed, is considerably less than an equiva-
lent paper or cardboard container, and in the case of the 14-pound size, less than
that of the ordinary wooden one-stone (14-pound) box in wide use.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61
Advantages listed for the package are:
1, Quicker and more efficient freezing,
2. Can be sealed virtually airtight.
3. Can be ovened by piercing and running an @rdirary
knife round the lid and since the metal is soft,
it does not leave cutting edges,
4. After the packing ice has disappeared, the contents
are protected from deteriorating action from the
outside air, and the contents remain at a much lower
temperature for a longer period than with other types
of packages.
The 14-pound aluminum package was tested by packing with wet fillets. Tests
were carried out under scientific control and in controlled temperatures. Fillets
of identical quality were packed with and without ice and placed in temperatures
up to 70° F. for 24 hours and 48 hours, in the new aluminum packages and in the
ordinary wooden boxes. In all cases, fish taken from the aluminum packages and
tested anonymously (by number and without knowledge from which pack it had been
taken) was pronounced to be in the best conditio of all. Further tests were then
carried out with fish supplied, packed, opened, and inspected by merchants. In
every test, using wet and dry fillets and kippers, the results were exceedingly
satisfactory.
Containers have a scrap recovery value and the manufacturers have proposed
to the trade that where the packages could be collected (crushed in a wooden box)
approximately one cent per pound would be paid.
In addition, for wholesale and retail deliveries in bulk a returnable alumi-
num liner has been developed which can be used in a light wooden frame with a
hinged lid.
“MoM nye
x KW OW
SHARK FISHING FACTORY SHIP: The first shark fishing factory ship in the
world is being build in a Grimsby shipyard, England, the December 1949 issue of
The South African Shipping News and Fishing Industry Review reports. The vessel
is a former four=masted schooner built in Denmark in 1920. It is being converted
to conduct shark fishing off the coast of West Africa all the year round.
In the after section of the vessel will be five factories, one equipped to
extract vitamin oil from the shark liver, another to process fish meal, an air-
drying section to handle selected cuts of shark for making fillets (to be sold
on the West African food market), a canning plant, and a refrigeration plant.
In order to set up a permanent Latin American Committee for Marine Research
to encourage all countries to recognize, appreciate, and protect the resources of
the sea, the First Latin American Congress of Marine Biology was called. The
62
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12; No. 3
purpose of the Congress is to establish and foster relations between similar in-
stitutions in the American Republics and to encourage the study of the utilization
of products from the sea for food and industrial purposes. The Congress was held
at Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar fram October 10 to 15, 1949, according to a Janu-
ary 5 report
from the American Bnbassy at Santiago, Chile.
e
Representatives from the Argentine Republic, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Do-
minican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay attended.
Tne following five committees were formed:
General and Marine Biology.
Physical and Chemical Oceanography.
Zoology.
Fishing and Fishery Biology.
International Organization and Marine Biology Stations,
The Plenary Sessions of the Congress approved resolutions presented by the
Fishing and Fishery Biology Committee on the following subjects:
1.
5.
Establishment of international zones in which neighboring countries
shall be permitted to fish,
Control of unrestrained fishing by vessels from foreign countries,
Protection of exploitable marine resources and the intensification
of the scientific study thereof,
Establishment of the name "Latin American Congresses of Oceanography,
Marine Biology and Fisheries" as final,
Standardization of fishery statistics.
In addition, among the numerous other resolutions of general interest pre-
sented by the other committees and accepted by the Plenary Sessions were réso—
lutions on the following subjects:
Ve
Need for international exchange of biological data gathered simul-
taneously in the various countries,
Revision of the methods of research in the sea, making them uniform
for all oceanography, marine biology and fishery stations.
Preparation of a catalog of the marine fauna of Latin America,
Emphasizing the value of libraries specializing in oceanogravhy,
marine biology, and fishery, and the fostering of their devel-
ovment by requesting the aid of public funds,
Urgent need for the establishment of Marine Biology Stations
in all of the Latin American countries,
Concentration of facilities for work and research in one
Institute which will serve all the Stations,
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63
7. Need to have the (respective) governments adopt adequate
measures for the effective conservation of natural resources,
protecting their common interests by means of regional agree-
ments.
8. Approval of the statutes of the Standing Latin American Com-
mittee on Oceanography, Marine Biology and Fisheries.
The next Congress, which is to meet every three years, will be held at the
City of Montevideo. The Uruguayan Committee isto propose the opening date. Place
of holding the Congresses will be alternated between the Member Countries on the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Extraordinary Congresses may be convened at the
decision of the Standing Committee. The official languages will be the scien-
tific languages, and Spanish and Portuguese; only the last two are working lan—
guages.
At this Congress, the Standing Latin American Committee on Oceanography,
Marine Biology, and Fisheries was organized. The Marine Biology Station of the
University of Chile in Montemar near Valparaiso, Chile, was designated as the
permanent seat of the Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee, which shall consist of five members appointed by
each Congress, shall have an international status, and shall be recognized by
the adhering Governments and financed by them yearly by means of quotas propor-—
tionate to their population and the total volume of fishing done by them in the
previous year. It shall meet at Montemar at least once a year, and will have a
salaried Secretary-—General.
Functions of the Standing Committee will be as follows:
1, To stimulate, plan, and coordinate oceanographic, ma- ards for marine biologists, ichthyologists and fish-
rine-biological and piscatorial research in the coun- ing experts.
tries of Latin America,
5. To compile a file on informtion relative to ocean-
2. To standardize and disseminate working and research ography, marine biology and fishing, and publish
methods in that field in the countries of Latin the minutes, documents, and papers of the Congresses,
America,
6, To facilitate the exchange of researchers, and of
3. To coordinate, organize, and publish the results working and scientific materials among the various
obtained from oceanographic, marine-biological and Latin American countries.
piscatorial research in Latin America,
7. To form commissions to study specific problems
4. To favor the establishment of common training stand- of common interest to various Latin American
countries,
In addition, the Congress appointed a chairman of the National Committee,
which is to function in each Member Country, who was charged with the organiza-
tion and operation of the Committee. Each National Committee shall consist of
the same number of members as the Standing Committee and its Secretary shall be
chosen by the respective Governments.
Functions of each National Committee are:
1. Discharge in its country, the functions pertinent fishing and kindred subjects.
to the organization to which it belongs, and it
shall fulfill or conduce to the fulfillment of 3. Prepare, in the role of Organizing Committee, for
the decisions of the Congress and of the Stand- the next Latin American Congress on Oceanography,
ing Committee. Marine Biology and Fishery to be held in its
country,
2. Answer tne inquiries made by its Government in ;
matters relative to oceanography, marine biology, 4, Maintain constant relations with the. Standing
; ; Committee and the other National Committees.
6h, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
During the initial organization stages, each National Committee was requested
to give preferential attention to and act on the following:
1. To seek the ratification by each country of the Biology Station in those countries where
agreement creating the Standing Committee, and there is none,
their financial support thereof,
4. To promote the training of the necessery sci-
2. To coordinate. and organize existing material entific personnel for marine research and ex-
resources and manpower, ploitation, striving to place them in such
financial circumstances as will enable them
3. To organize or create at least one Marine to devote themselves wholly to their task,
All authority and rules governing all the activities of the Standing Latin
American Committee and the National Committees emanate from the Latin American
Congresses.
Special committees also may be appointed by the Congresses or by the Stand-
ing Committee for a definite purpose and shall report on their work to the body
which appointed them.
Numerous papers were presented at this Congress, and the following are some
of those directly related to fisheries:
Scales and Biology of Fish Ichthyologic Population
Canning Industry Marine Biologists and Fishery Biologists
Starfish and their Threat to the Industry Mexican Fishery Resources
Permeability of Woods The Need to Create an International
Organization for the Study of Oceanography
Fish Breeding
Marine Biology and Fisheries
Sea Fishing in Brazil and Sao Paulo
Territorial Waters and Cooperation of
Biology of Fishing and Marine Biology Ships of the Merchant Marines and
Stations Navies in these Studies
Useful Fish
Mareh 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65
Department of Commerce
BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE
CERTAIN COMMODITIES DELETED FROM POSITIVE LIST: Certain additional commodi-
to the Department of Commerce. Among the deleted commodities was "...fish meal
for feed...," Schedule B No. 119900. This was the only item deleted of interest
to the fishing and allied industries. (See Commercial Fisheries Review, January
1950, p. 54; and November 1949, p. 68).
Federal Trade Commission
COMMERCIAL COLD STORAGE INDUSTRY TRADE PRACTICE CONFERENCE HELD: <A commer-
cial cold storage industry trade practice conference was called by the Federal
Trade Commission on March 23, and announced in the Federal Register of March 2.
The conference was held at Chicago.
The conference was and further proceedings will be directed toward the even-
tual establishment and promulgation by the Commission of trade practice rules for
the industry under which unfair methods of competition, unfair or deceptive acts
or practices, and other trade abuses, may be eliminated and prevented.
All persons, firms, corporations and organizations engaged in the business
of renting, leasing or otherwise providing refrigerated storage space for foods
and other products, issuing warehouse receipts for such products, and in supplying
services and facilities in connection with such storage, were invited.
Department of State
OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF CARIBBEAN COMMISSION REAFFIRMED: The four Member
and the United States) issued a statement on March 6 reaffirming the Member Gov-
ernments' continuing support of the objectives and principles of the Caribbean
Commission and announcing policies on certain recommendations of the West Indian
Conference (Third Session), according to the United States Department of State.
In this statement, which was issued simultaneously March 6 in the Caribbean
Area, Paris, London, and The Hague, the four Governments reaffirm the principles
that the Caribbean Commission is an agencyof the Member and Territorial Governments
66 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
for the collection of factual information and statistics on problems of regional
significance (including fisheries) ;*a clearing house for the.dissemination of
such information and statistics; and an agency for reporting and making recom-
mendations on specific problems of economic and social development. In its role
as a coordinating agency, the Commission will place at the disposal of the Car-
ibbean territories“as wide a range of technical assistance as possible by such
means as sponsoring the exchange of scientific and technical information, and by
developing scholarship arrangements-and direct exchange of technical workers.
So far as future joint action is concerned, tie Governments pledge their
continued support to the principle of industrial diversification appropriate to
the economies of the various Caribbean territories, as a means of supplementing
and diversifying their economies. Further, the Governments express interest in
seeing that trade barriers are kept to a minimum with a view to promoting trade.
The Caribbean Commission is an outgrowth of the former Anglo-American Car-
iboean Commission which was established March 9, 1942, for the purpose of encour-
aging and strengthening social and economic cooperation between the United States
and the United Kingdom and their non-self-governing territories in the Caribbean
area.
* * * *K *
UNITED STATES-COSTA RICA INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA commission: 2/ The
Convention between the United States and Costa Rica for the Establishment of an
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, signed at Washington, May $1, 1949, en-
tered into force on March 3, upon the exchange by representatives of the two coun-
tries of the respective instruments of ratification.
This Convention is the result of increasing evidence during recent years
that the United States and Costa Rica should undertake cooperative scientific
investigation of the yellowfin and skipjack tuna in the waters of the eastern
Pacific Ocean fished by nationals of the two countries, the kinds of fishes com-
monly used as bait in the tuna fisheries, and other kinds of fish taken by tuna
fishing vessels. The scientific information presently available is not suffi-
ciently extensive to indicate whether or not tuna stocks are now in danger of
depletion. Accordingly, the Convention has for its purpose the making of a joint
study and the gathering and interpretation of factual information with a view to
maintaining the populations of the fishes covered by the Convention at a level
which will permit maximum utilization year after year without depletion. This
will be done through a joint Commission composed of a United States section and
a Costa Rican section. Inasmuch as the fisheries concerned in the Convention
present problems of interest to a number of countries besides the signatories,
a provision was inserted making possible adherence by other countries whose na-
tionals participate in the fisheries involved.
This Convention is similar to the conventions between the United States and
Canada regarding sockeye salmon and halibut, which were signed on May 26, 1930,
and January 29, 19357, respectively, in that the objectives are to be attained
through a Commission composed of representatives of both Governments and which
shall have investigatory powers. Unlike the salmon and halibut commissions, how-
ever, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is a purely investigatory body
and any regulatory measures which are indicated by the study would have to be the
subject of future hegotiations between the two countries.
1/See Commerciel Fisheries Review; November 1949, pp. 71-2; June 1949, pp. 59-62,
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67
Eighty-first Congress (Second Session)
FEBRUARY 1950
Listed below are public bills, resolutions, etc., introduced and referred to
committees, or passed by the Eighty-First Congress (Second Session) and signed by
the President during February 1950, which affect in any way the fisheries and
fishing and allied industries. Public bills, resolutions, etc., are mentioned
under this section only when introduced and, if passed, when they are signed by
the President.
PUBLIC BILLS AND R#SOLUTIONS INTRODUCED AND REFERRED TO COMMITTEES:
House of Representatives:
H, R. 7209 (Bonner) - A bill authorizing and directing the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior to undertake a con-
tinuing study of the shortage of white shad, herring, and other fish in the
Albvemarle and Pamlico Sounds and tributaries with respect to the biology,
propagation, and abundance of such snecies to the end that such Service may
recommend appropriate measures for arresting the decline of valuable food
fish for increasing the abundance and promoting the wisest utilization
thereof; to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries,
H. R, 7441 (Thompson) - A bill to promote development and improvement of
standards for frozen fishery products and to provide for voluntary grading,
inspection, and certification of such products, and for other purposes; to
the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries,
The following bills introduced prior to February 1, 1950, were not previously
shown under this section:
H. R, 6835 (Herter) = A bill to promote the foreign policy of the United
States and to authorize participation in a cooperative endeavor for
assisting in the development of economically underdeveloped areas of
the world; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
H, R, 6902 (Scudder) - A bill to provide for the determination of peril
points with respect to foreign trade agreements; to the Committee on
Ways and Means.
H. R, 6905 (Stockman) - A bill to require the establishment of a clas-
sification of freight and a scale of class rates, for application to
transportation of property by railroad, so adjusted as not to dis-
criminate among regions or territories in the United States; to the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,
H, R. 7062 (Furcolo) = A bill to aid in the use, conservation, and de-
velopment of the natural resources of the New England Resources Survey
Commission; to the Committee on Public Works, (Same as S, 2847.)
Senate:
S. 3123 (Johnson) = A bill to amend section 5 of the act of February 26, 1944
entitled "An act to give effect to the Provisional Fur Seal Agreement of
1942 between the United States of America and Canada; to protect the fur
seals of the Pribilof Islands; and for other purposes;"to the Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,
The following bills introduced prior to February 1, 1950, were not previously
shown under this section:
68
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 3
S. 2847 (Green) - Same as H. R. 7062; to the Committee on Public Yorks.
S. 205 (Thye) - A vill to extend until July 1, 1951, import control
powers with respect to fats and oils and rice and rice products; to
tne Committee on Banking and Currency,
§. 2917 (Saltonstall) - A bill to promote the foreign policy of the
United States and to authorize participation in a cooperative en-
deavor for assisting in the development of economically underde-
veloped areas of the world; to tne Committee on Foreign Relations.
NOTES ON SHRIMP FISHING ALONG THE NEW ENGLAND COAST
There lives along the North American coast from Cape Cod
to Nova Scotia a large population of northern shrimp. Found
in depths of 35 to over 400 fathoms, they are very different
in appearance fromthe small shrimp of shallow brackish sloughs
or from the large ones of the Gulf of Mexico. They are the
largest shrimp of the New England coast, reaching a total
length of about eight inches, andthe most brilliantly colored,
being deep pink to bright red all over the body.
They are most commonly found in water of 60to100 fathoms
in depth, usually (though not always) on soft md. During the
late winter, however, they move inshore to spawn in depths of
20 to 50 fathoms. At that time, they are often taken in-
cidentally in lobster pots or in flounder trawls. Some time
in late spring or early summer they return to their usual
haunts in deeper water. They may be taken on the bottom only
during the day and in greatest quantities on brightest days.
They are usually found in regions where several kinds of bot-
tom-living fishes are also abundant. Hence, catches of shrimp
are nearly always associated with large quantities of rosefish
(bream), whiting, hake, flounders, etc.
Although it has long been known that northern shrimp are
probably commercially abundant, their habits are such that
special gear and methods are needed to catch them in profitable
quantities.
--Fishery Leaflet 318
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
LANDINGS AND_ RECEIPTS
In Millions of Pounds
MAINE - LANDINGS.
MASSACHUSETTS - LANDINGS _
NOT INCLUDING IMPORTS BOSTON , GLOUCESTER , NEW BEDFORD , & CAPE COD
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
JAN, FEB. MAR, APR, MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
NEW YORK CITY-RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH CHICAGO - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH
SALT-WATER MARKET WHOLESALE MARKET
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
GULF - SHRIMP LANDINGS SEATTLE - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH
12.0 HEADS OFF - FOR ALL USES WHOLESALE MARKET , LANDINGS , & IMPORTS
ie}
JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR.MAY JUNE JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT, OCT. NOV. DEC.
=~
In Thousands of Tons
CALIFORNIA - PILCHARD LANDINGS CALIFORNIA- TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH A
120
105
JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR.MAY JUNE JAN. FEB. MAR. APR, MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
eeccoeee ESTIMATED
70 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 42,' No. 3
COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS
In Millions of Pounds
U.S. & ALASKA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH U.S. & ALASKA - FREEZINGS
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
NEW ENGLAND - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH NEW YORK CITY - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
CHICAGO - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH GULF - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH
fe)
Onu fF a DO VY oO ©
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA > ISH
HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH CALIFORNIA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN F
fa)
Yu AO On nN Oo oO
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ql
CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS
In Thousands of Standard Cases
MAINE - SARDINES , ESTIMATED PACK UNITED STATES - SHRIMP
ee
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC, JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR.MAY JUNE
CALIFORNIA - TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH CALIFORNIA - PILCHARDS
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB.
os
MAR. APR. MAY JUNE
CALIFORNIA - MACKEREL ALASKA - SALMON
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
WASHINGTON - PUGET SOUND SALMON
STANDARD CASES
Variety No.Cans Can Designation Net. Wgt.
SARDINES 160 1/4 drawn 3 1/4 oz.
SHRIMP 48 — 5 oz.
TUNA 48 No. 1/2 tuna 7 oz.
PILCHARDS 48 No. 1 oval 15 oz.
MACKEREL 48 No. 300 15 oz.
SALMON 48 l-pound tall 16 oz.
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
72 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES R&VIEW Vol, A25 Now 3
PRICES . IMPORTS and BY-PRODUCTS
BOSTON - WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE MAINE - IMPORTS OF FRESH SEA HERRING
ON NEW ENGLAND FISH EXCHANGE IN ¢ PER POUND IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
In Millions of Pounds
U.S. - IMPORTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FILLETS U.S.- IMPORTS OF FRESH AND FROZEN
OF GROUND FISH, INCLUDING ROSEFISH SHRIMP FROM MEXICO
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
In Millions of Pounds
U.S.- IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA U.S.- IMPORTS OF CANNED SARDINES
AND TUNA-LIKE FISH (Include in oil and not in oil )
ie}
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC.
U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH MEAL U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH OIL
IN THOUSANDS OF TONS IN MILLIONS OF GALLONS 40
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. JAN, FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW WG
wa
°F ISHERY PUBLICATION
4
Fa a A i ek ee i On ee es Ba Poe cass
Recent publications of interest to the commercial fishing industry are listed
below.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS
THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION, FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASHINGTON 25, Da Co NAAR! OF
PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS FOLLOWS:
CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA.
FL = FISHERY LEAFLETS.
MDL - MARKET DEVELOPMENT SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS, LOCKER PLANTS,
ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.
SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW.
SL = STATISTICAL SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS IN AND PRODUCERS OF FISHERY
PRODUCTS AND BYPRODUCTS.
Number Title
CFS=505 - Massachusetts Landings, 1947 Annual Summary, 16 p.
cFS-506 - Massachusetts Landings, 1948 Annual Summary, 14 p.
CFS=516 - Frozen Fish Report, 1949 Annual Summary, 14 p.
CFS-51 - Frozen Fish Report, January 1950, 10 op.
CFS-51 - Lake Fisheries, 1947 Annual Summary, 8 p.
CFS=520 - Meal and Oil, December 1949, 2p.
CFS-521 - Texas Landings, December 1949, 4 p.
CFS-522 - Massachusetts Landings, Septeinber 1949, 14 p.
CrS-524 = Chesapeake Fisheries, 1947 Annual Summary, 4 p.
SL-3 - Wholesale Dealers in Fishery Products, Massachusetts, 1949,
De
SL-17 - Wholesale Dealers in Fishery Products, Alabama, 1950, 3 np.
FL-336c - Quarterly Outlook for Marketing Fishery Products, January-
March 1950, 38 p.
FL-363 - Egyptian Fisheries, 12 p.
FL-364 - The Mussel Resources of the North Atlantic Region, 34 p.
MOL-51 (Revised) = Officials of Refrigerated Locker Plant Associations, 3 p.
Sep. 245 = Gallic Acid Ester Anti-Oxidants for Fish Oils
Feeding Tests with Gallic Acid Ester Anti-Oxidants
MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS
THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT
USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING THEM,
Annual Report of the Federal Secur Agency 1949 | sale by Superintendent of Documents, Washington
Food and Drug , Administration 5 = per printed, 25, D. C.), 1950. This publication contains
20 cents. Food and Drug Administration, Fed- only the annual report of the Food and Drug
eral Security Agency, Washington, D. C. (For Administration, covering the period from July 1,
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
1948, to June 30, 1949, reprinted from the An-
nual Report of the Federal Security Agency.
Actions taken on foods, including sea food, are
listed in this booklet. Included is a short
report on the sea-food inspection service,
court interpretations (including one on canned
oysters), and a report on scientific investi-
gations conducted by the agency (including crab
meat, oysters, and frozen shrimp).
Food Composition Tables for International Use, by
~~ Charlotte Chatfield, FAO Nutritional Studies
No. 3, 61 p., printed. Food and Agriculture
Greanizacron of the United Nations, Washington,
D. C., October 1949. Among the important re-
sponsibilities of FAO is a periodic appraisal
of the world food situation. For such ap-
praisals, the basic material includes "food
balance sheets" for individual countries. Pre-
paration of food balance sheets involves three
steps: (1) thé collection by governments of
data on available food supplies; (2) calcu-
lation of the amounts of the various foods and
food groups available on a per capita basis
made by dividing the total supplies by the
number of people in the population; (3) calcu-
lation, based on step 2, of the calories and
certain nutrients available on a per capita
basis. Up to the present, the only nutrients
or classes of nutrients considered in drawing
up food balance sheets have been proteins and
fats, including fishery products. The main
purpose of the tables contained in this booklet
is to facilitate the last step in the process
of drawing up food balance sheets with a
greater degree of uniformity. For fishery
products, as well as for other foods, the food
composition in terms of retail weight ("as
purchased") and composition of the edible por-
tion and refuse in the material as purchased
are given. The Handbook for the Preparation
of Food Balance Sheets, which indicates the
methods which Member Governments may follow in
carrying out the first two steps in the process
of preparing food sheets, has already been
issued.
How to Sell to the United States Army, 36 p.,
printed. Procurement Information Center, De-
partment of the Army, Room 3D 745, The Pen-
tagon, Washington, D. C., 1950. Explains how
both large and small firms may enter the Army
procurement field and gives continuing assist-
ance to businessmen who have dealt with the
Army in the past. Detailed information on
where purchasing is accomplished and how pro-
curement matters are handled by the Army is
contained in the pamphlet along with other
pertinent material, In addition, the list of
items purchased (includes preserved or pre-
pared fish and shellfish and edible animal
oils) by the Army and respective purchasing
locations have been brought up to date and
included as an appendix. Another appendix,
regarding procedure for local purchases, will
be of value to fishery firms interested in
supplying fresh and frozen fishery products
to the Army.
Vol. 12, No. 3
"New Information on the Essential Amino Acid
Content of Canned Fish," by E. J. Cameron,
article, N.C.A. Information Letter (Convention
Issue), no. 1271, February 4, 1950, pp. 34-8,
illus., printed, free. Fishery Products Di-
vision, National Canners Association, 1739
H St., NW, Washington 6, D. C. A brief ex-
planation of the role protein plays in human
nutrition is given, as well as a summary of the
canned-fish protein studies sponsored by the
National Canners Association-Can Manufacturers’
Institute. The procedure for determining the
minimum daily requirements of essential amino
acids developed by Dr. W. C. Rose is described.
Three tables are presented showing (1) the
minimum and recommended intakes of essential
amino acids for normal man (tentative values),
(2) protein and amino acid contents per serv-
ings of canned fishery products, and (3) con-
tribution by canned fish servings to protein
and amino acid requirements. Nine figures are
given: one showing the protein content of
various fish and eight showing the amino acid
content of the following canned fishery prod-
ucts: fish flakes, Atlantic mackerel, Pacific
mackerel, salmon, sardines in oil, sardines in
tomato sauce, shrimp, and tuna. It was found
that the essential amino acid patterns for
various fishery products are very similar.
Lysine and threonine predominate in all sam
ples. Three others, isoleucine, leucine, and
valine follow fairly closely, and the re-
maining three, methionine, phenylalanine,
and tryptophan run somewhat below 50 percent
but are present in substantial quantities.
The data obtained in the studies add greatly
to the knowledge of the nutritional value of
fish and fishery products. A bibliography of
11 references is also included.
Pearl Industry in Japan, NKB Research Monthly,
No. 12, July-August 1949, 8 p., printed, free.
The Nippon Kangyo Bank, Ltd., (The Hypothee
Bank of Japan), No. 1, l-chome, Uchisaiwai-cho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Ina brief historical
sketch, this publication outlines the develop-
ment.of the pearl industry in Japan. It points
out that recovery of the industry to prewar
levels is expected to take several years because
of the scarcity of materials and higher costs,
Discusses cultivation (operation, equipment,
materials, yield of completed pearls, preven-
tion of natural disasters); export and production;
and cultured and natural pearls.
"The Pilchard Situation in Oregon," article, Fish
Commission Research Briefs, December 1949, vol.
2, nO. 2, pp. 17-22, printed, free. Fish Com-
mission of Oregon, Portland, Oregon. A brief
analysis of the data collected during the 1948
season in the cooperative study of pilchards
(Sardinops caerulea) being conducted by the
Pacific Coast fishery research agencies and
the Fish and Wildlife Service is presented in
this article. It shows how the average lengths
of the pilchards for both sexes and in all time
periods were greater in 1948 than in 1947. The
analysis indicates that the Oregon pilchard
March 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 75
fishery in 1947 and 1948 was dependent on the
larger, older fish--the younger age classes
are not entering this fishery in sufficient
numbers to support a heavy catch. Prospects
for the future of the pilchard fishery in
Oregon are not bright, according to the authors.
Point Four (Cooperative Program for Aid in the
Development of Economically Underdeveloped Areas),
Economic Cooperation Series 24, Publication 3719,
177 p., illus., printed, 40 cents. Department of
State, Washington, D. C., January 1950. (For
Sale by Superintendent of Documents, Washington,
D. C.) The purpose of this document is to ex-
plain the nature, purpose, scope, and operating
arrangements for the proposed Point Four Pro-
gram and its relation to the United Nations
program. Fisheries are mentioned specifically
in several instances. Under the scope of the
program, fisheries are discussed with reference
to development of resources and industries.
What cooperative fisheries assistance to date
has accomplished in Mexico, Chile, Guatemala,
Peru, and Venezuela is also included.
Shrimp Industry, by Clarence P. Idyll, 14 p.,
processed. Marine Laboratory, University of
Miami, Florida State Board of Conservation,
Coral Gables, Fla., February 1950. This report
discusses a survey conducted by the author in
order to determine whether or not the shrimp
fishery of Franklin County, Florida, has de-
clined. It lists the kinds of shrimp caught,
outlines the life history of the shrimp, gives
total landings for the County, and includes
recommendations made by the author. Among the
recommendations for investigations leading to
a more efficient exploitation of the shrimp
resources are the following: (a) a search for
offshore grounds inhabited by jumbo shrimp and
the testing of new methods for capture of these
shrimp, using sonic sounding gear and mid-water
trawls; (b) testing of night fishing for red
or grooved shrimp ("hoppers"); (c) development
of uses and markets for the "sea bob" shrimp
which occur in large quantities. The cost of
such exploratory work, if carried out in co-
operation with the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service, should not exceed $15,000, ac-
cording to the author.
"Should the Hoover Commission's Fishery Recommen-
dations be Adopted," was the subject of four
addresses presented at the Fishery Products
Conference at the 43rd Annual Convention of
the National Canners Association, Atlantic
City, N. J., January 28, 1950. They were de-
livered by the following: Robert 0. Beatty,
Conservation Director, Izaak Walton League of
America, Inc., (News Release 1950 C-5, 5 p.);
C. R. Gutermuth, Vice President, Wildlife
Management Institute, (1950 C-7, 5 p.); Donald P.
Loker, Chairman, Fishery Products Committee,
N.C.A., (1950 C-8, 10 p.); and Albert M. Day,
Director, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
(1950 C-6, 7 p.); see pp. 1-9 of this issue.
Cépies of these news releases are available
from the National Canners Association, Infor-
mation Division, 1133 20th St., NW, Washington 6,
D.C.
"Skin Lesions Among Fishermen at Houtman's Abrolhos,
Western Australia, with an Account of Erysipeloid
of Rosenbach, by Keith Sheard and Harold Grif-
fiths Dicks," 4 p., printed. Reprinted from
The Medical Journal of Australia, vol. II, no.
10, September 3, 1949. Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organization, Australia.
Examination of 43 fishermen at the Abrolhos
Islands, Western Australia, during 1947 showed
the presence of many lesions resulting from the
infection of superficial wounds by staphylococci,
streptococci, and erysipelothrix, among other
agents. This is a report on an investigation
carried out on these 435 fishermen. The report
describes the working conditions of the workers,
the generalized clinical picture, prevention,
and treatment.
"Small Boat Stabilizers," article, California Fish
and Game, January 1950, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 53-4,
printed, Division of Fish and Game, Department
of Natural Resources, San Francisco, Calif.
Describes a device for holding a fishing ves-
sel (trollers) steady by reducing the roll of
the boat in heavy seas. The use of this de-
vice is said to increase the fish catch of
the boat by permitting fishing in rough seas
that would otherwise drive the small trolling
vessels to shelter.
Supplement II (Cumlative) to United States Im-
rt Duties (7948), Miscellaneous Series,
TC 1.10: Im 7/4/948/supp. 2, 25 p., proc-
essed. United States Tariff Commission,
Washington, D.C., January 1950. (Persons
who already have the original document can
obtain copies of the supplement without
cost on request to the Commission. Original
document is for sale by the Superintendent
of Documents, Washington, D.C., at $2.00.)
This supplement brings the "United States
Import Duties (1948)" TC 1.10: Im 7/4/948,
up to date as of January 1, 1950. The orig-
inal document, released in June 1948, shows
all United States import duties as of
June 15, 1948. The current supplement is
cumulative and replaces the first supple-
ment issued in August 1948. The basic
document together with the second supple-
ment includes'all United States duty
changes negotiated under the trade agree-
ments procedure and which were in effect
January 1, 1950. Of the changes nego-
tiated at Annecy, France, during the
summer of 1949, only the rates of duty
negotiated with Haiti were in effect as
of January 1, 1950. The other rates
negotiated at Annecy are not covered by
the supplement. Certain fishery products
are listed in the latest supplement.
"Studies on Australian Marine Algae, V,
(Observations on and Geographical Records
of Various Species, Particularly Those of
76
the Gelidium Complex), by Valerie May, 8 p.,
printed. Reprinted from the Proceedings of the
Linnean Society of New South Wales, vol. LOCV,
Parts 3-4, pp. 196-202, October 21, 1949. Com-
monwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organization, Australia. This paper is con-
cerned mainly with species of the genus Gelidiun,
various observations, and new records of dis-
tribution being reported. In addition, extended
geographical ranges are recorded for certain
other algae and the occurrence of tetrasporic
material is noted in a species normally found
only in a sterile condition.
"Trends in Supply and Demand 1949," article, Fish-
eries Bulletin, January-February 1950, vol. III,
no. 1, pp. 3-7, processed, 30 cents per issue.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, Washington, D. C. Discusses primsry
world production of fishery products, fishing
fleets, international trade, prices, processing,
and trends. It contains an appraisal of the
data and information made available to FAO
through the first half of December.
79 p., illus., processed. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, Washington,
D. C., December 1949. An FAO Special Fisheries
Mission (which arrived in Thailand on November
1, 1948, and stayed until December 13, 1948)
made extensive tours of fresh-water, brackish,
and marine fisheries, visiting fishing villages,
fishing grounds, fish markets, and other places
of interest in Thailand, from Chiengmai in the
north to Songkla in the south. The report dis—
cusses in a general way the fish fauna and ac-—
quatic resources of Thailand, and then gives
the present status of and the nature of govern-
mental action in the fresh-water fisheries,
brackish-water cultural fisheries, marine fish-
eries; marketing; handling, storage, and pro—
cessing; and fisheries organizations, includ—
ing cooperatives. The Special Mission gives
its conclusions and recommendations on in-
dividual aspects of a fisheries program. Ac—
cording to the Mission, the status of the Thai-
land fishing industry and of governmental ac—
tivity is extremely low, its prospects of devel-
opment are considerable, and the need for gov-
ernmental action is urgent. Although many un-
derstandable factors doubtless contribute to
this situation, it is nonetheless surprising
in view of the importance of the product in
the Thailand diet and of the industry as a
source of employment and income. This pre-
sent report and the earlier Report of the Mis—
sion for Siam, published in 1948 after the
visit to Thailand of FAO's economic and tech-
nical (agricultural and forestry) mission,
complement each other.
Philippines, by Harry 8. Hinkle and Justo C.
Aquino, 61 Pe, processed, Philippine Fishery
Program, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
Philippine Bureau of Fisheries, Manila, Republic
of the Philippines, December 1949. This report
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
examines the factors affecting the cost of ice
in the Philippines and how they seriously affect
the orderly production and marketing of fishery
products in that country.
Report on a Fisheries Project for Costa Rica, by
Mogens Jul, 128 p., processed, limited distri-
bution. Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, Washington, D. C., September
1949. In April 1949, the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development requested the FAO
to undertake a brief study of a plan for fisher-
ies development in Costa Rica which had been pre-
pared and submitted to the Bank by the Costa
Rican Government. The author visited Costa Rica
from May 12-20, 1949. This publication reports
on the findings made on this trip and the material
collected. The project consists of plans for the
development of fishing and distribution for fresh
fish consumption; tuna fishing and freezing for
export; a fish meal plant; and fish cannery. Con-
tains information on the present fishing industry
of Costa Rica and the possibilities for its dev—
elopment, including fisheries administration,
statistics, legislation, operations and resources,
shore installations; domestic market for fresh
fish; markets for tuna and shark; canning of fish;
production of fish meal; and other fish process—
ing. The author in his conclusion and recommen-
dations states that it seems desirable for Costa
Rica to attempt to develop fishing activities and
related industries there; and that there are good
possibilities for doing this on an economically
sound basis. The author reports that increased
local participation in tuna operations carried
out in Costa Rica should be studied and pro—
posals made for one type of vessel to be acquired
for this purpose and tested. Annexes include
tables of fishery products production and for-—
eign trade, the plan prepared by the Costa Rican
Government, and Costa Rican legislation affect—
ing the fisheries.
"Studies on the Biology of the Edible Oyster, Ostrea
rhizophorae Guilding, in Puerto Rico," by N. T.
Mattox, 16 p., illus. (Reprinted from Ecological
Monographs, October 1949, vol. 19, pp. 339-56).
Department of Biology, University of Puerto P”:o,
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, “uya- ~
guez, P. R. This is a report on an investigation
which was conducted to Obtain a knowledge of the
environmental and biological factors involved in
relation to the edible oyster, Ostrea rhizophorae
Guilding, in the waters of Puerto Rico. The va-
lidity of the name 0. rhizophorae is discussed
and the differences between this species and the
closely related 0. virginica are given. Included
are hydrographic observations (temperature, dis-
solved oxygen, hydrogen ion concentration, sa-
linity), biological observations, plankton, and
growth studies. In discussing the possible ex-
pansion of commercial activities, the author:
points out that the fecundity and rapid growth
rate of these oysters permit an all-season
industry.
Vol. 12, No. 3
March 1950
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
CONTENTS, CONTINUED
FOREIGN (CONTD.):
NORWAY:
NORWEGIAN-POLISH TRADE AGREEMENT ..
MRAWLIING Ac ep jaleveis, statesaloatesvierclete soe eters
EXPORTS OF FROZEN FILLETS .sveseoes
HERRING FISHERY .ccccoccoccercccccs
STO .cosaconoogoodaooeunoscuoE Bem
EFFECTS OF DEVALUATION ....cvescece
NEW RESEARCH VESSEL .ocesccecerccccesecccere
PAKISTAN:
NORWAY TO AID PAKISTAN FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT
UNITED KINGDOM:
BILLINGSGATE FISHERY RECEIPTS DECLINED IN
USA Oe rareretererctetercicicteverciureicievereroiave rote elotetalevovelsyers
NEW ALUMINUM FISH PACKAGE DEVELOPED .
SHARK FISHING FACTORY SHIP wesccvcverccerece
INTERNATIONAL:
FIRST LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS OF OCEANOGRA-
PHY, MARINE BIOLOGY, AND FISHERIES ........
OM
PAGE PAGE
FEDER ALM CTIONS ob rctersleletaisioitersieloieleiel=clela(cleisoieleiateieien lO
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE:
cobooco . Sil BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE
sconce | Be) CERTAIN COMMODITIES DELETED FROM POSITIVE
soanee0 — Se) LIST conccoososaopbasdoavbuedhoododaodccca &S)
noogoa0. Be) FEDERAL TRADE COMMISS1 ON:
59 COMMERCIAL COLD STORAGE INDUSTRY TRADE PRAC-
osconne 6S) TICE GONEERENGESHEUD Mes niciic sn cleneisicieiecieee OO
60 DEPARTMENT OF STATE:
OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF CARIBBEAN COM-
60 MISSION REAFFIRMED ..-eveccvesccocesererers 65
UNITED STATES=COSTA RICA INTER-AMERICAN
TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION .cccceeceeserccece 66
60 EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS (SECOND SESSION),
cooon =) Fah? UGEO) acodansdadobogsouacoodsbooeoDD BL
Bil oi) GRAPHS: elere|alolcleleneieieleseleieleielsiel=(ei-isien i c 69
LANDINGS AND RECEIPTS ..esereceresccororesers 69
COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS AND FREEZINGS OF FISH-
61 ERY, PRODUCTS) crreclemele eimteleteloteteleleiainiclelele(e = clatevaier iLO
CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS .....-e+eeee 7\
PRICES, IMPORTS AND BYPRODUCTS ...e-ececereee 72
RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS: ...ccerseeccceseee 79
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS .....- 73
MISCELLANEOUS PUBL1ICAT!ONS son00000 76)
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73278
WON
MEXICAN FISHERY LAW OF DECEMBER 31,1949 3908801018 1113
recently issued by the. Service. It is an additional supplement to Fishery Leaf—
let 260, Mexican Fishery Legislation, and-is a verbatim translation of the revised
Mexican fishery law of December 31, 1949, whichwas published in the Mexican Diario
Oficial of January 16, 1950. This newlawis a revision of the law of December 31,
1947.
The new law entered into effect 60 days after
the date of publication; however, it is optional
for holders of concessions and permits issued un—
der previous laws to retain them in force under
such laws until expiration or to have the new law
apply to them. Regulatory measures based on the
new law must be issued within 180 days from Janu-
ary 16, 1950, according to the law.
Although the new law is generally more speci—
fic than the 1947 law, which it replaces, it does
not differ appreciably from current practice.
Fishery Leaflet 260, Mexican Fishery Legislation,
mentioned above, consists of a discussion of Mexi-
can fishery legislation enacted prior to September
1947 which was of interest to the American fishing industry, and it also includes
the texts of the most important laws and orders.
Copies of both of these leaflets are available free upon request from the
Division of Information, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington 25, D. C.
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